Henry Herron, CBE, former Procurator-Fiscal, Glasgow; born May 6, 1911, died November 17, 1996

HENRY Herron, who died on Sunday at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, at the age of 85, was a notable figure in the Scottish legal world, serving as Procurator-Fiscal for Glasgow from 1965 till his retirement in 1976.

Mr Herron was born in Motherwell and educated at Hamilton Academy and Glasgow University where he graduated MA in 1932 and LLB in 1934. His first public appointment was as depute procurator-fiscal at Perth. He was appointed senior depute procurator-fiscal at Glasgow in 1946 before moving to Banff to the senior fiscal post there the same year. Five years later he returned to Glasgow as assistant procurator-fiscal and after four years in this post spent a decade as procurator-fiscal in Paisley before his final Glasgow appointment in 1965. He was awarded a CBE in 1975.

Not only was he extremely well known and respected in the criminal courts but his handling of the aftermath of the Ibrox disaster of 1971 won him many accolades from professional colleagues and from the authorities involved in its wider implications.

After his retirement he served as deputy chairman of Traffic Commissioners and Licensing Authority for Scottish Traffic Area from 1978 to 1981. His recreational interests included gardening, jurisprudence, and criminology. He was also a great admirer of Burns and was a past president of Paisley Burns Club. He was much in demand as an after-dinner speaker, particularly for his thoughtful Immortal Memories at Burns Suppers.

He married Dr Christina Aitkenhead Crawford in 1942. She, their son, two daughters, and nine grandchildren survive him. His daughter Christine said of him yesterday: ``He was very well liked by people in all walks of life. He was very knowledgeable but down-to-earth.''

n.JOSEPH BELTRAMI writes: I had the undoubted privilege of knowing Henry Herron over a period of some 20 years, both in Paisley and Glasgow, where he was the procurator-fiscal for a number of years after succeeding another giant, the late Robert MacDonald (known to all and sundry as God - and treated as such). Henry was known simply, and affectionately, as ``H''.

He was a formidable opponent in jury matters (yes, at one time the fiscal did them), always well prepared, manifestly fair, and with the height, build, and dignity to match his perspicacity and clarity of thought. If one succeeded in a jury trial with ``H'' one talked about it for some considerable time.

Some people say that appearance seldom matters in court proceedings. It surely must, when your opponent bestrides the courtroom like some handsome colossus, allowing his adversary to scurry about for such scraps as may have been overlooked by him.

I found ``H'' to be helpful and understanding throughout the now distant Meehan saga and never hesitated before consulting him about such problems as occasionally confront court laywers.

There have been a few appointments since ``H's'' retirement but, with all due respect, never as memorable and, dare I say, formidable.

Both ``God'' and ``H'' were frequently seen about the courts and spent less time on desk-work than is now the norm - mark you, there were far fewer forms to complete and return in those good old days, by way of contrast to this dully bureaucratic era. In the present miasmal surroundings these two would be like a welcome breath of fresh air.