He touched many lives with service and support

TO RUTLAND AND REGION

A BUSINESSMAN, politician, public servant and sportsman has died after a year-long battle with cancer, aged 89.

James Matheson Knight Weir OBE, pictured, of Oakham, was the first chairman of Rutland County Council when it regained independent status in 1997.

He also served as Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire in 1984 and Rutland in 1997 and was vice-Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland until 2006.

As a businessman, he was co-founder in 1973 of construction company Jeakins Weir, based in Corby.

Born in Aberdeen, his family moved when he was five to Edinburgh.

During the 1950s, he was one of the top try scorers in Scottish club rugby.

He played in two Scottish international trials and, in 1958, for the Combined Cities of Scotland against Australia.

On his return from National Service in 1957, he took up a position with Wimpey and later joined Mitchell Construction Kinnear Moodie.

In 1973, James was approached by Corby Development Corporation to take on a house-building contract in the Northamptonshire town.

James invited colleague John Jeakins to join him. Their company has grown from strength to strength and is now run by James’s sons, Jamie and Alistair.

A long-standing involvement with the Territorial Army saw him serve in, among others, 71 (Scottish) Engineer Regiment, becoming Squadron Commander of 585 Field Squadron.

In 1983, he became County Commandant of the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Army Cadet Force. His force was the first in the Midlands to take in girl cadets.

In the 1980s, while chairman of Oakham Conservative Association, James represented Rutland on Leicestershire County Council, taking up its fight for independent status.

In the late 1980s, James was appointed trustee of Peterborough Cathedral Preservation Trust and remained a trustee for 21 years.

On the board of Anglian Water, he was influential in turning Rutland Water into a leisure destination, and also served as president of Rutland Sailing Club and Rutland Scouts.

James married Mary in 1954. She survives him, as do his sons and four grandchildren.

Alistair said: “My father’s death is a tremendous loss to the family. He was a true inspiration and will be greatly missed by all of us. What is more, Dad lived an enormously meaningful life.

“He touched many lives with his service and support, spanning 80-plus years in Rutland and the East Midlands as well as Scotland.

“My father valued all his relationships, and his work, humility and kindness touched many people’s lives – and his legacy will endure.”