James Agnew

of the Trades of Glasgow; born February 17, 1905, died May 3, 1998

James Percival Agnew, who has died suddenly aged 93, was born in Glasgow and educated at Kelvinside Academy and Glenalmond.

On leaving school, he joined the leading Glasgow accountants McClelland Kerr and, after qualifying, became a partner in Mitchell and Smith.

He remained with that firm until 1960, when he became a partner in Hardie Caldwell Kerr and Hardie.

In 1963 he retired, but became a director of Lyle Shipping Co Ltd, and three years later he became chairman at a time when the company was expanding successfully.

He oversaw and engineered the joint venture with Hogarth Shipping, which led to the formation of Scottish Ship Management. His happiest period of business life was that spent with Lyle, for he loved the sea and the ships, and was full of admiration and respect for those who sailed them.

While in practice as an accountant he joined the board of the West of Scotland College of Commerce, and became chairman, guiding it through the merger with the Royal College of Science and Technology, ultimately to form the University of Strathclyde.

He sat on the Court of the university and on his retiral was made an Honorary Doctor of Laws, (Ll.D) an honour which brought him huge pleasure

as he had not had the opportunity of attending university when young.

He made a particular impact on the civic life of Glasgow when he was elected Deacon Convener of the Trades of Glasgow in 1949.

The Trades House and all its charitable works, its historical connections to the city, and its membership and links with education became his greatest interest and source of pride. He was made a Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Glasgow.

In 1930 he married Miss Jessie Blair Anderson, of Prestwick, and they built and set up home at Broadmeadows (now Hansel Village) Symington. There, he became an active member of the kirk session of Symington and left his mark through the provision of eight hand-stitched tapestry seats for the elders, which tell the story of the parish.

Tapestry, a skill which he had been taught by his wife, became his abiding interest and his work - which he produced in huge quantities right up to his death - was exquisite and

considered to be of exhibition standard.

He had a lifelong interest in Sir Walter Scott and his works, on which he was an acknowledged authority. He read voraciously - biographies and works particularly with a leaning towards engineering, which he admired above all else.

He used to refer to himself as having ''a fund of useless information,'' but, in truth, he had a phenomenal fund of knowledge, acquired through constant reading and a virtually photographic memory.

To the end his memory and ability to answer the most abstruse questions amazed those who knew him.

It was, however, in his family that he found most joy. He adored his wife of 48 years and was devastated by her death, and yet his great strength and gifts meant that he was totally positive in looking to the future. He never had regrets and never looked back, except in pleasure.

He was immensely proud of his daughter and his son, taking particular pleasure when his son became Deacon Convener of the Trades in due course.

His son-in-law pre-deceased him, but he loved his daughter-in-law and found real joy in

his five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Young folk related to him because he had a totally young approach to life. He understood them and patently was genuinely interested in all they did, and wanted to know and understand all that they were about.

He had a strong and highly-developed sense of humour, with the blessed ability to laugh at himself, which he did constantly. Throughout his life he was sustained by his strong faith in God.