Forbes Howie
Encyclopedia
William Forbes Howie, DL
, JP
, MIEE
, ARTC (13 August 1920 – 27 December 2000) was a successful businessman who played an active role in Scottish public life.
, Scotland
, he was considered too frail to follow his brothers to the High School of Glasgow
and was therefore cared for by a maid
and educated at local schools. He then studied electrical engineering
at Glasgow University, graduating in 1941. He served in the RAF for four years during the Second World War, gaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant
.
, in Falkirk; it was also a car dealership, most recently for Peugeot. Turnover surpassed £1 million in the early 1970s.
As well as being an Associate of the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, a Member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers and an Associate Member of the Institute of the Motor Industry, Howie also served on the Engineering Advisory Committee of Falkirk College of Technology.
the following year. In 1981 He was appointed Her Majesty's Deputy Lord Lieutenant
for the County of Stirling, representing HM The Queen at official functions. In 1983 he was appointed General Commissioner of Income Tax, a position he held until the age of 75.
movement, having met Robert Baden-Powell
in person in his youth, he held the position of District Commissioner for Falkirk District for 18 years. He then became Chairman of the Falkirk District Scout Association, becoming Honorary President in 1978. At that time he was also appointed Chairman of the Forth Valley Scout Council, representing this body on the Scottish Committee of the Scout Association, a post he held until 1989. He received the Medal of Merit in 1956, the Silver Acorn in 1981, and the Silver Wolf
, the highest Scouting award given to just one in two million members, in 1989, for 'services of the most exceptional character to the movement'.
He founded the Stirling and District Amateur Football Association in 1951, as well as serving on the board of the Scottish Wildlife Trust
. His interest in nature, particularly geology
, led to him gaining a Bachelor of Arts in Ecology
from the Open University
in his retirement. He was also President of Falkirk Rotary Club and was made a Paul Harris Fellow
. He was also President of Falkirk Fishing Club and the Toastmasters Club
and a Director of Glenbervie Golf Club. He was also chairman of the local Age Concern
.
Throughout his life he had a close association with the Church, joining St. Andrew's West
in Falkirk in 1951, elected a deacon
in 1953 and ordained an elder
in 1956. In 1979 he was elected Session Clerk, a post he held until ailing health forced him to resign in 1989.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, MIEE
Institution of Electrical Engineers
The Institution of Electrical Engineers was a British professional organisation of electronics, electrical, manufacturing, and Information Technology professionals, especially electrical engineers. The I.E.E...
, ARTC (13 August 1920 – 27 December 2000) was a successful businessman who played an active role in Scottish public life.
Background and education
Born one of six children in Woodlands, FalkirkWoodlands, Falkirk
Woodlands is a large, prosperous central area of Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, which is mainly residential. Much of the ward is taken up by leafy streets where property prices are among the highest in Central Scotland and includes Lochgreen, Slamannan, Rosebank, Gartcows and Southern...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, he was considered too frail to follow his brothers to the High School of Glasgow
High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, it is the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar...
and was therefore cared for by a maid
Maid
A maidservant or in current usage housemaid or maid is a female employed in domestic service.-Description:Once part of an elaborate hierarchy in great houses, today a single maid may be the only domestic worker that upper and even middle-income households can afford, as was historically the case...
and educated at local schools. He then studied electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
at Glasgow University, graduating in 1941. He served in the RAF for four years during the Second World War, gaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
.
Career
Howie was Assistant Managing Director of Thomas Laurie & Co, his uncle's motor and electrical engineering firm, from 1947 to 1957, becoming Managing Director upon his uncle's death until retirement in 1981. Thomas Laurie & Co was founded in 1882 and had fitted the first fully automated street lighting in BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, in Falkirk; it was also a car dealership, most recently for Peugeot. Turnover surpassed £1 million in the early 1970s.
As well as being an Associate of the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, a Member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers and an Associate Member of the Institute of the Motor Industry, Howie also served on the Engineering Advisory Committee of Falkirk College of Technology.
Civil duties
Howie was made responsible for the setting up of the Children's Hearing system in Falkirk, becoming the first Chairman of the local Children's Panel Advisory Committee in 1970, Chairman of the Supplementary Benefit Appeal Tribunal in 1973, and a Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
the following year. In 1981 He was appointed Her Majesty's Deputy Lord Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for the County of Stirling, representing HM The Queen at official functions. In 1983 he was appointed General Commissioner of Income Tax, a position he held until the age of 75.
Interests
A keen supporter of the ScoutScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
movement, having met Robert Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
in person in his youth, he held the position of District Commissioner for Falkirk District for 18 years. He then became Chairman of the Falkirk District Scout Association, becoming Honorary President in 1978. At that time he was also appointed Chairman of the Forth Valley Scout Council, representing this body on the Scottish Committee of the Scout Association, a post he held until 1989. He received the Medal of Merit in 1956, the Silver Acorn in 1981, and the Silver Wolf
Silver Wolf
The Silver Wolf is the highest award made by The Scout Association "for services of the most exceptional character." It is an unrestricted gift of the Chief Scout...
, the highest Scouting award given to just one in two million members, in 1989, for 'services of the most exceptional character to the movement'.
He founded the Stirling and District Amateur Football Association in 1951, as well as serving on the board of the Scottish Wildlife Trust
Scottish Wildlife Trust
The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a registered charity dedicated to conserving the wildlife and natural environment of Scotland.-Description:The Scottish Wildlife Trust has over 32,800 members...
. His interest in nature, particularly geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, led to him gaining a Bachelor of Arts in Ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
from the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
in his retirement. He was also President of Falkirk Rotary Club and was made a Paul Harris Fellow
Paul P. Harris
Paul Percy Harris was a Chicago, Illinois, attorney best known for founding Rotary International in 1905, a service organization that currently has well over one million members worldwide.-Biography:...
. He was also President of Falkirk Fishing Club and the Toastmasters Club
Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills...
and a Director of Glenbervie Golf Club. He was also chairman of the local Age Concern
Age Concern
Age Concern was the banner title used by a number of charitable organisations specifically concerned with the needs and interests of all older people based chiefly in the four countries of the United Kingdom....
.
Throughout his life he had a close association with the Church, joining St. Andrew's West
St. Andrew's West
St. Andrew's West Parish Church is the largest church in Falkirk, Scotland, founded in 1843 and situated in the town centre on Upper Newmarket Street and known for its conservative evangelical preaching, aligning itself with the Forward Together group and the Evangelical Alliance...
in Falkirk in 1951, elected a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1953 and ordained an elder
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
in 1956. In 1979 he was elected Session Clerk, a post he held until ailing health forced him to resign in 1989.
Family
Howie married Janet Morrison Campbell and had two sons and one daughter, and seven grandchildren.Other
- Uncle of actor Robbie ColtraneRobbie ColtraneRobbie Coltrane, OBE is a Scottish actor, comedian and author. He is known both for his role as Dr...
- Nephew of Ross HaddowRoss HaddowMajor Ross Taylor Haddow, MC, KS, JP, MA, LLB, CA, Lord Dean of Guild of Glasgow , was a prominent Glasgow businessman and politician....
, Lord Dean of Guild of Glasgow