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Educated at Edinburgh Academy (see Appendix II) a good crecketer, but injurty cut short a promising rugby career. He took a BL degree "summa cum laude" and first prize in Scots law at Edinburgh University. After an apprenticeship to Baillie Gifford WS., he qualified as a WS., in 1931, was a member of the Speculative Society 1930 - 33, worked as a partner in Cowan & Dalmahoy WS., for 5 years and the rejoined Baillie Gifford on their Investment Management side where he remained till 1972 being senior partner for his final latter years.
As a lt., in the '78th Field regiment R.A. (T.A.) he was mobilized on the outbreak of hostilities and served throughout the war. he married Ada Mary Mackinlay, daughter of Charles mackinlay (distiller and whisky merchant) in October 1939 and their eldest daughter Elaine was born in November, 1940. His wife and child saw little of him during the whole war as after an abortive few day in France (after Dunkirk) his Regiment was posted to the Middle East. (On landing in France the Regiment never unloaded their guns and on their return, were, I believe the only fully equipped Field Regiment in the U.K.)
They fought all the way from Alemain to Sicily, where he was injured and sent back to Cairo for "repairs". I met him there, while I was at the Cairo Conference and managed to assist in getting him posted back to his regiment which he so much desired.

For service in the Anzio beachead in 1944 he was awarded the military Cross and we met again in Leghorn in September, 1944 when I was returning from the Yalta conference. My General "Mickey" Holmes, managed to get him out of the line so that we could meet for a day. Later on, in 1945, over the crossing of The Po and subsequent operations at Lake Garda he was awarded an "inmmediate" DSO in the field. For one with the rank of Major thus was an outstanding achievement ranking "proxime accessit" to a V.C.

He returned home safely in late 1945 and resumed Investmenet Trust Managemenet in Edinburgh. Became a Director of the Commercial Bank of Sctland, and latterly when it was merged with the Royal Bank of Scotland, was deputy Chairman. he was also on the borad of the Scottish life Assurance Coy and Deputy Chairman of The Association of Investment Trusts. He became Chairman of the Scottish mortgagee & Trust and The Edinburgh and Dundee both of which Investment Trusts were managed by Baillie Gifford and he was a Director of the Alliance Trust in Dundee. He retired from business in 1978.

He was and still is a very good golfer (2 holes in 1 last year). Captain of the Hon Coy of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield and an Honorary member of Bruntsfield Links golfing Society, a member of The Seniors Golfing Society and The Pirates.

He took up shooting after the war and as a good shot both for "birds" and a gun and "stags" with a rifle, but has recently given that pursuit up, but retains his great interest in salmon fishing which - apart from golf - is now his main relaxation. Looking after his grandchildren is another major ploy, but does not always qualify for the epithet of "relaxation".

A great leader of men by example, and full of determination, courage and utter rectitude. Of the many stories told of him, I think the following is one of the gbest:
"While in chirch he started to breathe deeply preparatory to the usual Chiene snore (we are noted as a family for this failing) whereupon his wife nudged him sharply and whispered "George stop breathing". The reply, much to the astonishment of the congregation came in a stentorian voice. "I'll bloody well breathe when I want"!!!"
He is still breathing, thank goodness!!

His wife "Tuppenny" as she is known, is an unlimited ball of fire and energy, a matter of considreable astonishment to her admirers, considering her somewhat diminutive frame. The eldest daughter Elaine married Roger Whewell CA a partner in Peat Marwick's in London and they have 3 children. She was followed by two post war children: Peter who after following in his father's footsteps as a WS took up publishing as a profession and is doing very well. Penelope the second daughter (known as "Penny" as shw is almost half her mother's size) married niel McKerrow, who after a perior in the Regular Army as an officer in The Queens Own Highlanders became a partner in McDonald & Mir, Distillers & Whisky Merchants, and has adapted himself to that trade with considerable success, they have three children. George and Tuppeny have recently acquired an old farm house at Nethy Bridge called Balnangowan which is in the process of renovation, as a holiday home for themselves and their grandchildren.