Flamboyant solicitor, sheriff and supporter of Garnethill Synagogue in Glasgow
Born: February 12, 1929
Died: October 29, 2018
FREDERICK “Freddie” Levine, who has died aged 89, was a well regarded lawyer who entered private practice in the 1950s and only retired in the 1990s. Thereafter, he was appointed as a peripatetic temporary sheriff. His expertise and enthusiasm also contributed enormously to the governance of Garnethill Synagogue in Glasgow and the fund-raising activities of the Glasgow Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Always cutting a dash, a rose in one lapel whatever the season, with an imposing 6ft frame and slightly unruly hair, Fred Levine would arrive at work early in the morning in one of his stylish but often temperamental cars. Whether it was the milkman (to whom he wrote a rhyme when the bottles were placed on an improbably high ledge), sheriff clerks, or lead counsel, it was hard not to notice Freddie Levine.
Educated at Hillhead High in Glasgow (where he was reputedly expelled more than once after his pet dog followed him to the school from home), he subsequently studied law at Glasgow University.
After graduating, in typically non-conformist style, he opened the eponymously named Frederick and Co, Solicitors, initially in West Nile Street, before moving to Sandyford Place. Not only did the firm display an inappropriately-prominent for-the-time aluminium exterior sign, but the inside of the office was distinctive too. On top of an enormous wooden table was spread out a mountain of files and correspondence (which also sprawled onto the psychedelically striped rainbow colour carpet - this was the early 70s, after all).
Fortunately for clients, assistants and harassed secretaries, Mr Levine seemed to have a visual recall for each file’s location, as a former partner recalled: “he would sit a client down and thrust his arm deep into a massive pile only to emerge with the latest letter in the case for perusal, impressing more than any regular filing system so far devised.”
Not only was Frederick & Co. not shy of coming forward, but Fred Levine himself was no luddite. Long before PCs became the norm, he perceived the advantages of automated accounting and digital word processing to help systemise traditional back-office processes prevalent in lawyers’ offices, hitherto inhabited by an army of secretaries and bookkeepers.
Budding assistants and apprentices found the laissez-faire autonomy at Frederick & Co. a febrile environment for their various careers – some became very successful in the profession, a few others escaped as quickly as possible.
Fred Levene’s appreciation of the distinctive also extended to his preference for refined, but sporty, vehicles, which variously included a gunmetal-blue Jaguar XK followed by a classic coachbuilt Alvis.
Known for his often left-field advice and appetite for excellent French cuisine, the late Neil Morris once asked Mr Levine to dispense some career guidance to an out-of-place job applicant at Morris of Glasgow furniture. "But what would you really like to do?" quizzed Fred. After hearing that a youthful David Wilson preferred cooking to woodwork, Mr Levine advised the young man to follow his aspirations. Several commercial transactions later, Mr Levine and family were well compensated with the occasional free lunch at Wilson’s renowned Michelin-starred Peat Inn. Some of the conveyancing was even ‘billed’ in Fred Levene’s rather off-beat verse!
A stalwart congregant of Garnethill Synagogue, Freddie Levine was at various times its secretary, as well as occasional chauffeur and loyal confidante to its renowned minister, Reverend Dr Kenneth Cosgrove. Following the efforts of fellow committee members, Garnethill Synagogue was granted heritage status. Not only does the building host Saturday services, it is also accessible to the public as the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre, housing documents and artefacts that help trace the history of Jews in Scotland since the 17th century.
Fred and Florence were early supporters of the Glasgow Friends of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Along with the rest of the committee, many thousands of pounds were raised through dinners, invited speakers and concerts designed to attract the wider community.
Many of those who knew Fred Levine both socially and professionally sought his insightful yet empathetic advice, which was always dispensed generously, often with gravity or humour as the moment required, and if one was lucky, the occasional brief impersonation of the key characters concerned.
Whatever the circumstances, Mr Levine was always available for reassurance and his advice was delivered with innate good grace. This ethos, coupled to his mercurial manner and occasionally mischievous sense of humour, touched many throughout his long career, which included a number of years when he was regularly on the bench as a temporary sheriff.
Freddie Levine is survived by his wife Florence, son Niall, nephew James Goldblatt, niece Pat Bayes, cousins, Coppel and Hasse and small extended family.
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