James Scott

Sheriff, advocate, naval reservist, musician, mountain rescuer… a true “man o’pairts’

James Peterkin Scott, sheriff. Born: 10 July 1947 in Inverness. Died: 30 January 2018, aged 70.

James Scott, who has died aged 70 was a true “man o’pairts” – long-serving Sheriff, Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve, criminal defence advocate, musician, mountain rescue team member and enthusiastic Russophile. He was also a police officer, procurator fiscal, karate exponent and aficionado of Malaysian food, which he enjoyed eating and cooking. While someone who knew his own mind, he was also an appreciated team player, as demonstrated both on the bench and at sea.

A Sheriff for almost 20 years, having been appointed in 1997, he served mostly in Dundee and Edinburgh, retiring from full time duties in 2014. Thereafter he continued to sit in a part-time capacity, mostly in the north east, till September last year. By his own candid admission he was not a fan of civil litigation but very much enjoyed the criminal courts, especially jury trials, which were his forte. This was to be expected as prior to being appointed Sheriff he had spent nine years in practice as a criminal defence advocate, appearing in a wide spectrum of cases in both the High Court and the Sheriff Court. As a practitioner he enjoyed a good reputation as an able and doughty representative of his clients, and well respected by all.

This was a reputation he carried with him to the bench where he was considered capable, courteous and fair. His straightforward manner reflected his down-to-earth approach, a lack of pretentiousness and his own widely varying life experiences.

If the law provided his livelihood, the Royal Naval Reserve was his passion. From the time he presented himself in 1977 at HMS Graham near Princes Dock, Govan as a “rookie,” it is no exaggeration to say he fell in love with the sea and naval service. Having been encouraged to join up by his then boss, Jimmy Mackinnon, Procurator Fiscal at Paisley and a retired Lieutenant Commander of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, he did so at the same time as another five inductees who would go on to remain lifelong friends and each attain the rank of Lieutenant Commander. While all were keen and enthusiastic, it was acknowledged that Jim was the keenest of them all. At every opportunity he would go to sea at weekends, sleeping on the floor if no bunk was available.

The Reserve’s main duties centred on training to support the Navy’s minesweeping capability in the event of war.

This involved weekly training and weekend coastal water outings in the Firth of Clyde, with Islay and Campbeltown regular destinations. Exercises took him and his colleagues further afield to Germany, Norway, France, Sicily and the Mediterranean, some of which were in conjunction with Nato.

During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, he linked up with Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Brinton, on which he did several patrols, thereafter being awarded the General Service Medal. After 1985, when the new River Class minesweeper was introduced, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, the highest seagoing rank possible. This was a source of much satisfaction. When, in about 1995, minesweepers were replaced by minehunters, Jim and others were effectively made redundant from the service, which caused him considerable upset. Subsequent battles with depression were thought linked, as it had been such an integral part of his life.

Born James Peterkin Scott in Inverness to James and Marion, he was the third of five children and brought up in the town’s Dalneith and Culduthel areas. A bright youngster, he entered the top stream at Inverness Royal Academy, where he showed talent at art and a liking for sport.

He played the drums in school musicals, having learned in the Boys’ Brigade, sang in a folk group and enjoyed hillwalking.

At 16 he wanted to join the Army but lack of necessary parental consent foiled that. His father, who was a travelling salesman with Wolsey, the textile company, arranged a trainee manager’s course placement for him with them at Leicester, where he shared accommodation with Malaysian students, hence his culinary tastes. When the course was scrapped, he returned north to join the police, serving in Stonehaven and area.

Having passed his sergeant’s exams, he applied successfully to join the Met as a detective, but instead of heading to London he attended college in Aberdeen to obtain ‘A’ levels before studying law at Aberdeen University. While there he obtained a brown belt at karate and was a member of the local mountain rescue team, regularly attending in the Cairngorms on duty.

For his own recreation, he also frequently walked and climbed there, 15-mile hikes on a weekend being commonplace. He was also active in organising student social events.

After graduating, he served anapprenticeshipwithanderson, Shaw and Gilbert, solicitors in Inverness. On completion of that he joined the Fiscal service, initially as a Procurator Fiscal depute in Glasgow and then Paisley, where he was encouraged to go to the Bar. In 1988 he became a member of the Faculty of Advocates and thereafter a Sheriff.

While on the bench in Dundee he met visiting Russian law professors who were over to study the Scottish criminal jury system to research proposed changes to their own system. Good friendships were established which led to Jim becoming fascinated by all things Russian. He developed a deep interest in its language, and culture, which resulted in his visiting the country several times to lecture in Archangel,st Petersburgandkrasnoyarsk.

His marriage to Marie, during which daughters Rebecca and Naomi were born, ended in divorce a few years ago, though they remained good friends and he was devoted to his daughters. Their children, Thorfinn and Lizzie, brought much joy back to his life and he is survived by all.

JACK DAVIDSON

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“Jim was the keenest Royal Naval Reserve volunteer of all. At every opportunity hewouldgotoseaat weekends, sleeping on the floor if no bunk was available”