Leslie Wolfson

Died: January 21, 2016

LESLIE Wolfson, who has died aged 86, was a lawyer, human rights activist and philanthropist who took on the Russian legal system and won the release of persecuted Jews to the West. He was also a great supporter of the arts and was a trustee of the fundraising appeal for the renovation of the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery in Glasgow.

He was born, to parents who were immigrant Jews from Russia, on the same day as Anne Frank – June 12 1929. His mother was also called Hannah Frank and although she was not related to the famous war diarist, Leslie always felt a connection to her as he grew up and it motivated him to live a full life and support the charitable trust founded in her name.

His childhood was spent in Pollokshields in Glasgow, with his two brothers Monty and Dick and his sister Sylvia and he was educated at the High School of Glasgow before starting to study accountancy. After his national service, though, he turned to law, which became his enduring passion.

In 1955, he founded his eponymous law firm, and became a successful businessman in the areas of real estate investment and beyond. This was to provide him with the resources to become a human rights activist, a philanthropist and an arts enthusiast.

In 1964 he married Alma Wolfson the Scottish landscape artist to whom he was devoted and had three daughters Monica, Georgia and Jessica. To add to his many roles he became an artist’s assistant, driver, easel carrier and most importantly an art critic. Alma and he were a team and bought a cottage on Easdale Island which was to become their Highland retreat and a destination for 40 years of happy family holidays.

In recent years this tradition had been carried on with The Grand Chicks, as Leslie proudly called his grandchildren, and they became the next generation to enjoy the restorative Easdale air.

Leslie Wolfson's originality of thought and flare for diplomacy came to the fore in the 1970s when Jews were being persecuted in Russia. As a Jewish lawyer, he bravely took on the Russian legal system and the KGB, winning both their respect and cooperation and obtaining the release to the West of Soviet Jews. He also learned from this experience that no deal was done without the consumption of copious volumes of vodka.

Sadly, the one task that he did not fulfil due to illness was to write his own account of his Russian experiences. The title was to be My Way with the Russians.

He regarded himself as a committee of one: once he had an idea, he did not wait for others to act but focussed on the task at hand and made sure the project happened.

With his brother Dick, he became a governor of Tel Aviv University and founded the Scottish Friends of the same institution.

He had a deep and abiding love of music and was instrumental in bringing the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra to Glasgow. He was hugely committed to their work in Israel and to the arts in Scotland

A leading figure in the International Bar Association, his appointment as chairman of the association's Human Rights Committee led to global travel with colleagues.

In September 1996, at an IBA seminar on Lockerbie in London, he proposed in a private note to a Libyan representative that the Libyans should consider a trial before Scottish judges alone in Holland. The note was eagerly received by the Libyan gentleman but its fate was unknown to Mr Wolfson. However, the IBA executive director, at his farewell dinner in London in December 2000, publicly made reference to Mr Wolfson's participation in the Lockerbie seminar. He courteously acknowledged his part in providing that key at the seminar to the setting up of the Lockerbie trial, something which was never generally made public.

In 2001, he introduced the idea of the Global Challenge which involved the twinning of lawyers from developed countries with those of the poorest countries to facilitate mentoring, support and the mutual exchange of ideas. His motto was Twinning is Winning. He received a special honour from the International Bar Association in the House of Lords to mark his work in the Human Rights sphere.

His business, charitable causes and pro bono work centred around his private office team. Always fair and gentlemanly, he demanded the highest standards of himself and expected the same of those around him. His reward was great loyalty, devotion and friendship. No matter where he was in the world, in whichever time zone, he was in constant contact and the office often worked a 24-hour cycle to keep him informed.

Lord Macfarlane invited him to become a trustee of the fundraising appeal for the renovation of the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery in 2000 and following this he became a trustee of the group completing the development of the Museum of Transport. He was one of the founder members of Kelvingrove Golden Oldies who helped fund the daily organ recitals.

He was honoured and delighted to receive, in 2006, an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, The University of Glasgow, and became very involved in their fundraising efforts and alumni programme.

Latterly, he supported the Israeli charity, Save a Child’s Heart, which became very dear to him. He felt that this charity illustrated how Jews, Arabs, Christians and Muslims could work together and provide lifesaving surgery for many thousands of children throughout the world.

Hidden behind his public face was an inherent compassion for others irrespective of religion, colour, creed or social circumstance. His charm, warmth and persuasive nature and his ability to communicate made those whom he met feel special and understood. Assistance in whatever form it was needed was always given generously and often anonymously.

Leslie Wolfson was, first and foremost, a family man whose charisma and generosity of spirit will be sorely missed not only by his extended family and friends but also the many beneficiaries of his philanthropic ways. He is survived by his wife and daughters.