Michael Meston

A University of Aberdeen graduate with a first in history, Michael Meston – better known as "Mike"– read law part-time while an apprentice in an Aberdeen firm. In 1957 he graduated LLB (with distinction) and was admitted as a solicitor. After a short time in practice, a Commonwealth Fellowship took him to Chicago University for a JD. In the US he applied for a post advertised by the University of Glasgow. A Chicago professor agreed to conduct an interview and report. He remembered the interview as a very brief one; all the professor said was: "Do you want this job Mike? Leave it to me."

In 1959 he took up the lectureship at the University of Glasgow. One of a number of Aberdeen law graduates appointed to Glasgow, Principal Hetherington is said to have plaintively inquired: "Don't we have any of our own?" The group concerned included the outstanding legal scholar Bill Gordon, a contemporary and close friend, who sadly died last September.

Prof Meston returned to Aberdeen as a senior lecturer in comparative law in 1965. The high standards he insisted on may have been influenced by his early teaching at Glasgow under the redoubtable Professor David Walker. The then recent transition from a part-time to a full-time law degree allowed for smaller groups involving student participation. Prof Meston was not prepared to ignore lack of preparation for class.

Despite his relatively strict regime, the honours succession law course which he taught for many years at Aberdeen was popular because of its quality. In a much changed list of law honours options, that course is still offered; it is taught now by one of his pupils, Professor Roderick Paisley.

After a short period as Professor of Jurisprudence, his true ambition was fulfilled when he was appointed to the Scots Law Chair, made vacant by the departure of RD Ireland QC for the shrieval bench. He was truly proud to occupy the original Aberdeen law chair and work in his area of primary interest – the private law of Scotland. In an article published after his retirement in 1994 he traced the chair's lineage. With characteristic humour he wrote: "As the 31st, or more probably the 32nd, in the line of succession of Civilists, I doubt my record of daily readings from Justinian would bear inspection."

His association with the University of Aberdeen spanned almost his entire adult life. An episode in his undergraduate days was an early indication of its nature. One of a small group, he was involved in a carefully planned protest famous in modern university history. A large library bell used to shatter the peace of study by its raucous signalling of closing time was the subject of student disenchantment. The "cloche boys" who removed the bell, to be returned later, did so without damage or trace of their operation, in a way that baffled university authorities. In 2000 he participated with two other surviving cloche boys in an interview about the event. Many will recognise Prof Meston in his words: "We did discover that there was a route out using yale locks on the inside, that didn't involve any difficulty of keys. It went into what was the old lending part of the library and then from there ... into the corridor in Cromwell Tower." So positioned, he signalled the all-clear for removal of the bell.

His reputation in succession law was founded on a most successful work on the reforming 1964 Act. Now in its fifth edition, the book is still very widely used. But, more so than textbook writing, the solving of problems in succession law was his essential contribution. A volume of succession opinions given over several decades was published in 2000. Testament to his extensive knowledge and practicality of approach, the work makes it easy to understand the high esteem in which he is held by lawyers throughout Scotland.

In a contribution much greater than a purely legal one, he undertook an extensive range of university and public service work. This included major contributions, over many years, to the Church of Scotland, Grampian NHS, the Law Society of Scotland and, of course, the University of Aberdeen. The pinnacle of his university contribution was as vice-principal to Sir Fraser Noble in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In those financially fraught times the university role was a most demanding one.

There was also a judicial role. Serving as honorary – later temporary – sheriff, he embraced the bench with characteristic enthusiasm. As a judge he was ready to make difficult decisions on the basis of what he thought right.

In his younger days he was an all-round sportsman who played especially good hockey and tennis. Golf, however, soon came to be his favoured recreation. His enthusiasm for the game was demonstrated to me when I took up my appointment at Aberdeen in 1971. As dean, he showed me into my office, bare but for a lone paper on the desk. It was not my contract of employment but an application form for Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.

He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather; he will be greatly missed by Doris, his wife of 54 years, his sons Donald and John and granddaughter Charlotte.