Alastair Stuart

Founding editor of Scotland on Sunday Born: February 1, 1927. Died: March 4, 2016. ALASTAIR STUART, who has died, aged 89, was the founding editor of Scotland on Sunday (SoS). After acting as The Scotsman’s London editor for two decades Mr Stuart returned to Edinburgh in 1989 to launch the new paper.

It was a major challenge and apart from recruiting staff and journalists he had to form the new upmarket paper’s overall policy. The mix had to be got right from the outset or the future would be bleak. There were several dummy issues but that first issue was warmly received and Mr Stuart’s commitment to the project and his adventurous nature was well rewarded.

After the delivery vans had left the old offices in North Bridge the atmosphere in the newsroom was euphoric. The ebullient Mr. Stuart raised a glass and told the staff: “We have all been in on the start of a great new enterprise. Now all we have to do is do it again ... and again ... and again ... because a great future lies ahead.” The cheers echoed down the Royal Mile.

Alastair Stuart was the son of a journalist on the Edinburgh Evening Despatch. His father died when he was an infant. Alastair was educated at the George Heriot’s and Edinburgh University, playing golf for both institutions. He then did his National Service in the RAF (1945-47), seeing service in India, and then joined the staff of the Evening Despatch as a sub-editor. For five years Mr Stuart then worked in Africa editing The Monitor in Mombasa.

In 1955 he returned to The Scotsman, moving south in 1966 to become the group’s London editor. It was a challenging appointment because Thomson Regional Newspapers owned a wide variety of regional papers. John Marquis, a former colleague in London has written warmly about their working relationship. “Alastair was the boss I respected most. He taught me a lot about management and was a very able, astute and charming man. Alastair led the London team with a cool efficiency.”

In London Mr Stuart served as chairman of the Caledonian Club in Belgravia.

The weeks prior to the launch of SoS were hectic and involved long hours, difficult decisions and endless editorial discussions. The launch was a significant event in Scottish journalism and Mr Stuart found the right balance between news and general interest articles: and fostered a real Scottish identity.

In 1989 he retired but retained connections with his former employers through the Thomson Foundation, where he acted as a consultant to many worldwide journalistic projects. He was a keen member of Stirling Golf Club after he and his wife Anne retired to Bridge of Allan.

He also maintained a high profile as vice-chairman of the D-Notice Commit- tee, pioneering a more relaxed attitude to the security services and promoting a wider understanding of the work they do.

His son Lewis, who is a journalist, thus preserving the family connection with the profession, told The Herald: “Dad had a wide range of interests and anecdotes about former colleagues and events. He loved chatting about politics, Scotland and the arts. His lifelong love of golf meant he had played on some far flung courses – especially Nigeria.

“I took a radio into the home and he avidly listened to the news bulletins. The launch of SoS was his major accomplishment – of which he was very proud.”

Stuart, who was made a CBE in 1970, married Anne Stuart in 1952. She and their two sons and a daughter survive him.