Page 32 - Quadrangle: 39th Edition

Quadrangle Feb21 v11.qxp_Layout 1 04/03/2021 15:31 Page 32

32

IN

MEMORIAM

CONTINUED

James Weir OBE

An obituary by his son, Alastair Weir

James Matheson Knight Weir OBE of Oakham, Wimpey, and later Mitchell Construction
who died on 11 September 2020 at the age of Kinnear Moodie (MCKM) to set up their Scottish
89 after a long battle with cancer, will be operations. He established a subsidiary which
remembered in the county of Rutland for his erected the first pre-cast concrete buildings in
tireless commitment to public life in the county central Scotland.
and the wider East Midlands.
In 1973, Weir was approached by the Corby
Early life Development Corporation (CDC) to take on a
Born in Aberdeen on 3 March 1931, Weir was in house-building contract. James invited a trusted Weir took on the fight. Fittingly, on the return
his 40s when he moved to the Midlands with his colleague, John Jeakins, to join him and they set of county status in 1997, Weir was appointed
young family. As a child, the five-year old James up Jeakins Weir Ltd in Corby. The company is Chairman of the new Rutland County Council.
and younger sister, Wilma, moved with their now run by Weir’s sons, Jamie and Alistair.
He became Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire
parents to Edinburgh. Territorial Army, Cadets
and Army Charity in 1984 then Deputy Lieutenant of Rutland in
Weir showed a flair for sport and gained his 1997. He was later appointed Vice Lord
‘colours’ for athletics at George Heriot’s School. Weir had a long-standing involvement with the Lieutenant of the County – a position he held
On leaving Heriot’s, he became an articled pupil Territorial Army. As a young man in Edinburgh, until 2006.
in a firm of chartered quantity surveyors in he served in 71 (Scottish) Engineer Regiment,
Edinburgh. becoming Squadron Commander of 585 Field Trustee and governing roles
Squadron. He later commanded 102 (Clyde In the late 1980s, Weir was appointed trustee
Rugby
Field Squadron) in Paisley. When he moved to of the Peterborough Cathedral Preservation
During the 1950s, Weir was one of the top try the Midlands, Weir was attached to 4 Armoured Trust and remained a trustee for 21 years.
scorers in Scottish club rugby. His rugby career Division in Germany.
began in the under-20s Sevens for Heriot’s Weir was a governor of Rutland Sixth Form
In 1983, Weir began his involvement with the College, Oakham C of E Primary School, Vale
Former Pupils Rugby Club, then Heriot’s first
Army Cadet Force. He became County of Catmose Community College, the Orchard
fifteen. He was a regular with Edinburgh District
Commandant (in the rank of Colonel) of the School in Melton and Casterton Community
and the Co-Optimists, playing in two Scottish
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Army College; he was a trustee of Oakham School
International trials, and in 1958 playing for the
Cadet Force. He took the unorthodox decision to for 21 years.
Combined Cities of Scotland against Australia.
run it on a military basis – a move that increased During his time on the board of Anglian Water,
Throughout the 1950s Weir played in Sevens
recruits by nearly 50%. His force was also the Weir was influential in turning Rutland Water
tournaments in Murrayfield, Melrose, Hawick,
first in the Midlands to take in girl cadets. into a leisure destination; he also served as
Langham and Jedburgh, winning medals in all
venues. He chaired the Rutland Branch of the ABF The President of Rutland Sailing Club and President
Soldier’s Charity and remained an active of Rutland Scouts.
National Service supporter from 1990 until his death.
In 1954, Weir was called up for National Family life
For service to the Territorial Army and Army In 1954 Weir met the girl who was to become
Service, and was posted to No. 3 Training
Cadet Force, Col. Weir was Awarded the his wife in Edinburgh. He said that he knew he
Regiment, Royal Engineers at Aldershot,
Territorial Army Decoration and clasp, and in would marry Mary from the moment he set
revelling in engineering tasks such as building
1987 was appointed as an Officer of the eyes on her. Theirs was to be a long-lasting,
Bailey and Pontoon bridges.
Military Division of the most Excellent Order of supportive and happy partnership.
Weir was selected for officer training at the the British Empire.
Royal College of Military Engineering after Weir will be remembered as the consummate
Political career gentleman – a generous, hospitable host and
which, in 1955, he was commissioned into the
In the 1980s, as chairman of the Oakham loving family man, who delighted in playing golf
Royal Engineers, with postings in Dusseldorf and
Branch of the Conservative Association, Weir and kicking a ball with his grandchildren until
Antwerp.
represented Rutland on Leicestershire County only months before his death. James is survived
Career in construction Council. When a Mori Poll revealed that 95% of by Mary and his two sons, Jamie and Alistair,
On return from National Service Weir joined Rutlanders wished to regain their county status, and four grandchildren.