Former Lord Dean of Guild and stockbroker; Born September 18, 1926; Died January 20, 2009.
David Hope Galbraith, who has died aged 82, was a well-known and well-liked member of the Glasgow business community, having served as Lord Dean of Guild of Glasgow from 1989-91.
He and his twin brother were born and brought up in Glasgow and Bearsden. He was educated at Glasgow Academy and Loretto School. On leaving school he was commissioned into the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and saw service in Palestine.
Shortly after being demobbed he contracted tuberculosis of the spine and spent 10 months in Killearn Hospital, much of it on the verandah and exposed to the elements. He managed to remain cheerful and was never heard to complain.
He joined his father in the Glasgow stockbroking firm of McEwan Scott Kirkpatrick & Galbraith, where he trained as a stockbroker and duly joined his father as a partner in the firm. The group went through many amalgamations and he eventually retired from Parsons Penny in 1990. He enjoyed his career as a stockbroker and was regarded as a "great boss".
His sense of fun was never far away, even at work, and, rumour has it, this was amply illustrated when, at the height of the oil crisis, dressed in flowing robes and a full nylon beard, he masqueraded as a Bedouin sheikh.
He met one of the partners and, communicating by wild gesticulation, discussed placing a large order there and then: fortunately, he admitted to his practical joke before any share purchases were made.
He embraced Glasgow business life and enjoyed opportunities to socialise with fellow businessmen: he was a natural networker. He joined the Incorporation of Bakers in Glasgow, which is one of the crafts of the Trades House of the city and, along with the other 13 incorporated trades in the house, is engaged in works of charity and benevolence. He was appointed to the highest office in the craft - Deacon of the Incorporation in 1967 - and retained a keen interest in the Incorporation, continuing to attend and support events for the rest of his life.
He had a strong sense of civic responsibility and was delighted to be appointed as a director and then Lord Dean of Guild of the Merchants House of Glasgow. It is one of the most ancient and prestigious organisations in the city whose membership is drawn from men and women in business or public life with Glasgow connections.
The Lord Dean of Guild is the second citizen of Glasgow, ranking after the Lord Provost. Both the Merchants House of Glasgow and the Trades House of Glasgow support the city council in promoting Glasgow and welcoming and entertaining the various dignitaries who visit the city throughout the year. David remained on the board of directors of the Merchants House, attending meetings regularly and offering support to those following in his footsteps as Lord Dean of Guild or as directors.
He was well-suited to the role of trustee of charities: interested in the various potential beneficiaries, knowledgeable about how to protect and grow the funds held by them and willing to give up his time freely and for their benefit.
For many years he served as a trustee on the Bellahouston Bequest Fund and as chairman of the Royal Society for the Relief of Indigent Gentlewomen of Scotland. He took his role as a trustee very seriously and, long after he retired from practice as a stockbroker, he was keeping financial advisers on their toes with his close scrutiny of the investment of the sizeable charitable funds administered by the various organisations with which he was connected.
He was a regular and committed member of the Church of Scotland. For many years he served as a Church of Scotland elder, first in St Paul's Church, Milngavie, and then in the parish church at Fintry, where he also held the role of treasurer.
He was a family man first and foremost and had a long and happy marriage to Valerie, whom he met when he was best man and she a bridesmaid at his brother's wedding. Valerie died in August 2008 after 52 years of marriage. David is survived by his five children: twins Rosalind and Catherine, and Alison, Jane and Angus, by six grandchildren and by his twin brother, Hamish.
I first met him when I was nine years old when the Inglis and Galbraith families both holidayed in the Angus glens year after year. He was a wonderful dad and grandfather and a great friend to all ages: he was full of fun, joined in at rounders, cheated at grandmother's footsteps and offered endless support, encouragement and guidance to those around him.
He will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him. By M Morag Inglis (with contributions from others)
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