Conservationist; Born January 19, 1912; Died December 12, 2008.

Francis David Charteris, who has died aged 96, was the 12th Earl of Wemyss and the 8th Earl of March, and was associated with the National Trust for Scotland for almost 60 years. His benevolent leadership did much to foster a family spirit within the trust, which inspired and nourished its every endeavour.

David Wemyss possessed a natural charm and a curiosity about all subjects that stimulated and uplifted everyone with whom he was speaking. His informality and warmth were aspects of his character that endeared him to National Trust members.

Many of these members knew him personally, often from being shipmates on the Trust's adventure cruises. He led the first one in 1962, rejecting the comfort of a cabin and electing to sleep in a bunk bed in a dormitory, like most of the passengers. He also rallied the staff around him to carry luggage on board; one passenger, astonished to find the Trust's chairman was his porter, promptly gave a generous donation. On one countryside outing, walking barefooted, Wemyss delighted his companions by playing a mouth organ.

Wemyss's interests embraced the welfare of rural communities, as was apparent when, in 1973, he led the Trust's successful battle to prevent the construction of concrete oil production platforms at Drumbuie, a crofting township in Wester Ross.

His sincerity was a foundation on which many negotiations with government, its agencies and private owners were successfully built to bring some of Scotland's finest houses, gardens and mountainous countryside into the nation's safekeeping. Wemyss's unsurpassed contribution to the conservation of Scotland's heritage has been permanently recognised by the trust's headquarters in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, being named Wemyss House.

Unlike previous earls, Wemyss chose to play no part in politics and was never an active peer in the House of Lords. He was, however, a most hard-working earl in East Lothian and throughout Scotland, helping countless causes, and was much involved in the affairs of the Kirk.

At Gosford House in East Lothian and at Neidpath Castle, near Peebles, Wemyss was to be found, well into his eighties, clearing the roof or clambering up scaffolding to effect some repair. His interest in and huge contribution to conservation was certainly not confined to paperwork and meetings.

He was born in 1912 and educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford. During the war he served as a major in Eritrea with the 8th Army. In 1946 he married Mavis Lynette Murray, daughter of Edwin Murray of Hermanus, Cape Town. They had two daughters and two sons: James Donald now succeeds to the titles.

Mavis died in 1988. In 1995, Wemyss married Shelagh Kennedy, originally from Vancouver, who had been the National Trust representative at the Georgian House in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. Despite his increasing deafness, they enjoyed wonderfully happy years together.

Wemyss was a proud Scot, but pride in his considerable learning, his ancient titles, great houses, an important collection of valuable paintings and many acres was absent from his modest personality.

The words "service" and "duty" are not much in use these days, but they are ones that defined his life. Wemyss, be it in East Lothian or on the wider Scottish stage, chose to serve, and he assuredly did his duty by his beloved Scotland.

Charles Fraser