Sir Hew Hamilton-dalrymple
10th Baronet of North Berwick, former vice chair of Scottish & Newcastle Breweries
Sir Hew Hamilton-dalrymple, 10th Baronet of North Berwick. Born: 9 April, 1926. Died: 26 December, 2018 aged 92
Sir Hew Hamilton GCVO, the 10th Baronet of North Berwick, who died on 26 December at the age of 92, was a former Lord-lieutenant of East Lothian and Captain-general and Gold Stick for Scotland of the Royal Company of Archers.
In these capacities, he was the Queen’s representative in the county between 1987 and 2001, and in command of her ceremonial bodyguard at Holyrood Palace between 1996 and 2004.
He had a successful business career, rising to become Vice Chairman of Scottish & Newcastle Breweries between 1983 and 1986, and Chairman of The Scottish American Investment Company (‘Saints’) between 1985 and 1991.
As baron et of north berwick, he owned two of the iconic sites on the south side of the Firth of Forth, the renowned Bass Rock island and the spectacular Tantallon Castle.
He was proud of his family’s 325-year association with North Berwick and involved in many local charities and associations, notably the Leuchie National Respite Centre. This, and its predecessor organisation of a Holiday Home for sufferers from multiple sclerosis in partnership with a community of Servite Sisters, has been based at the large family seat at Leuchie House which he determined was better used for religious and charitable purposes than as a private dwelling.
In a similar spirit, he ensured that the family land at Elcho Green and on the West Links at North Berwick was gifted to the town to be used in perpetuity “for purposes of a public park and recreation for the inhabitants of North Berwick and visitors”.
Business colleagues at Scottish & Newcastle Breweries recall a man of considerable charm and drive who remained very principled, but who was at the same time absolutely commercial.
He was deeply involved in the highly successful Youngers Tartan campaign and the company’s expansion into England as part of a management triumvirate with Peter Balfour and Tim Lewis. As Vice Chairman, he was hugely supportive of the revitalisation of the company under David Nickson and Alick Rankin. At Saints, he was a very effective Chairman, adeptly reconciling his duties to the shareholders of the investment trust with the emergence of the management company Stewart Ivory led by his old friend Jack Shaw Stewart.
Sir Hew was a committed Catholic, with strong ecumenical instincts, and a man of great and practical faith which guided him throughout his life.
He was very much influenced by the Benedictine monks who educated him at Ampleforth College, in particular his housemaster Father Stephen Marwood OSB, and was deeply attached to his parish church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, in North Berwick, where he worshipped almost all his life.
His younger brother Jock became a priest of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, and his second son, also Jock, has followed in his uncle’s footsteps.
Sir Hew was born in North Berwick in 1926. After Ampleforth College, where he was Head of School, he joined the Grenadier Guards at the age of 18.
Passing out of Sandhurst with the Sword of Honour, he spent his twenties in various post-war trouble spots, including Egypt and Palestine.
His most challenging position was the year he spent in India as ADC to the General in charge of Northern Command at the time of Partition; memories of the challenge of trying to halt the bloodshed between Muslims and Hindus remained with him for the rest of his days.
The discipline of the Guards – he was Regimental Adjutant of the Grenadiers for two years before his retirement from the Army in 1962 – was tempered with a great sense of humour and a light touch that served him well latterly in his positions in the Royal Company of Archers.
In all the many facets of his life, he possessed a rare combination of intelligence, charm, enthusiasm and courtesy – but none of which compromised his often formidably strong and clear views on a variety of topics.
He married Lady Anne-louise Keppel, youngest daughter of the Earl of Albemarle in 1954. She predeceased him in 2017, after a long and strikingly happy marriage in which their shared faith played a central part.
He is survived by his four sons, Hew, who becomes the 11th Baronet, Jock, Robert and William, the well-known historian, together with 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, the youngest, Addie, born four hours before his death.
DAVID SHAW STEWART