PROFESSOR Sir Robert Grieve, the first chairman of the Highlands and
Islands Development Board and one of Scotland's most eminent planners,
has died after a long illness. He was 84.
Friends and colleagues last night paid tribute to him. Mr Iain
MacAskill, the current chairman of the Crofters' Commission and a
colleague from the early days of the HIDB, said: ''He was a man of
vision, a very thoughtful man who knew the Highlands and Islands very
well.
''He was very sensitive to its needs, and very committed to the work
of the board. He stuck to his convictions throughout.''
Sir Douglas Hardie, former deputy chairman of the Scottish Development
Agency, said Sir Robert had been a valued judge for many years in the
annual Regeneration of Scotland design awards.
''I am very sad at this news,'' Sir Douglas said. ''He was full of
humour and his contribution to the judging panel was unique.''
Educated at North Kelvinside School and the Royal Technical College in
Glasgow, where he qualified as a civil engineer, Sir Robert began his
career in local government with Glasgow Corporation, Renfrew County
Council and Paisley Burgh Council.
Among his notable early achievements was his work on the Clyde Valley
regional plan.
He joined the Scottish Office in 1946, firstly as regional planning
officer for the Highlands and Islands, and then in the same capacity for
the Clyde Valley.
In 1960, he became chief planning officer for Scotland.
Glasgow University appointed him to the chair of town and regional
planning in 1964, the same year in which he was made planning consultant
to the Scottish Office.
A year later, Sir Robert took up the chairmanship of the HIDB, a role
he fulfilled for five years. He was knighted in 1969 and was later
appointed as an honorary professor at Heriot-Watt University.
Sir Robert is survived by two sons and two daughters. His wife, May,
died in 1984.
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