Born in Isles' Lane
The Independent (London, England), Jan 7, 2000 p6
Obituary: Lord Hughes. (Obituaries) Ewing.
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2000 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.
WILLIAM HUGHES spent 66 of his 88 years in public life and had a record of service which was as diverse as it was remarkable. Over 70 years' membership of the Labour Party saw Hughes use the full extent of his talents, not only for the people of Scotland, but for people way beyond its shores; an outstanding example of this service was his appointment in 1958 as Chevalier, Legion d'honneur, for his work in promoting and building good relationship and understanding between the peoples of Scotland and France.
At the remarkably young age of 22, "Willie" Hughes was elected a Labour Councillor in the City of Dundee, serving as Lord Provost from 1954 to 1960 and continuing to serve on the council for a further year to 1961, when he was created a life peer. As Lord Hughes, of Hawkhill, he took his title from that part of Dundee where he spent his formative years.
Born in 1911, he was educated at Balfour Street Public School in Dundee and at Dundee Technical College before becoming a building contractor, rising to director of various construction firms. From the most humble of humble beginnings, Willie Hughes was to display that well-known Scottish characteristic of determination to succeed but, very importantly, without the ruthlessness that often accompanies such determination. Hughes wore his humble origins like a badge of office and treated everyone with the utmost courtesy and respect.
Twice contesting general elections in 1945 and again in 1950 in the then parliamentary constituency of East Perthshire should not be interpreted as an ambition on his part to become an MP. East Perthshire then, as now, is fairly barren land for Labour parliamentary candidates, and is not the kind of constituency where election after election you pursue your "ambition". The truth of the matter is that Hughes was one of a number of very good-quality candidates who were prepared to stand in "hopeless" seats in order fully to occupy the Tory workers and prevent their spreading into Labour-held constituencies in areas like Dundee, Fife and Stirlingshire. I have absolutely no doubt that if he had really wanted to become an MP he would have done so.
His war record gives a revealing glimpse into the abilities of this likeable man. From 1939 to 1943 he was Air Raid Precaution Controller for the City of Dundee and, having joined the Army in 1943, he served in India, Borneo and Burma and significantly was commissioned in 1944, leaving the Army in 1946 with the rank of Captain.
His life peerage was the doorway to his becoming a member of Harold Wilson's 1964-70 Labour government, where he served at the Scottish Office with distinction as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State until 1969. He was then promoted to Minister of State, again at the Scottish Office; in both capacities he acted as Scottish Office spokesman in the House of Lords.
On the return of a Labour government in February 1974 Hughes was again appointed by Harold Wilson as Minister of State in the Scottish Office, this time with the important responsibility for the Scottish Development Agency, a role that his business background as a building contractor and company director entirely suited him for and which he discharged with credit until he left it in 1975.
There hardly exists in Scotland an industry, community or profession that has not been influenced by Willie Hughes. His chairmanship first of Glenrothes New Town Corporation in the early Sixties, and later of East Kilbride New Town Corporation, saw his expert knowledge of housing and town planning heavily influence the development of two very successful new towns. His membership of the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board for nine years from 1956 was to help greatly in developing the potential of that exciting enterprise. As Chairman of the Royal Commission on Legal Services in Scotland from 1976 to 1980 Hughes brought his influence to bear on the legal profession; his common sense approach to such a complex subject was vital to the outcome of the commission.
He served as Chairman of the Eastern Region Hospital Board and more recently as Chairman of the Scottish Association of Mental Health. Education was to benefit as well through his membership of the Court of St Andrews University. He also served with distinction on the European scene through his long membership of the Council of Europe and the Western European Union.
Someone once said, "Example is not one of the ways of leadership - it is the only one." Willie Hughes led by example.
Ewing of Kirkford
William Hughes, politician and public servant: born Dundee, Perthshire 22 January 1911; OBE 1942, CBE 1956; JP County and City of Dundee 1943- 76; Lord Provost of Dundee and HM Lieutenant of the County of the City of Dundee 1954-60; created 1961 Baron Hughes; Joint Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Scotland 1964-69; Minister of State for Scotland 1969-70, 1974-75; PC 1970; married 1951 Christian Clacher (died 1994; two daughters); died Comrie, Perthshire 31 December 1999.
Article CJ66412447The Guardian (London, England), Feb 7, 2000 p18
Obituary: Lord Hughes of Hawkhill. (Guardian Leader Pages)(Obituary)
Full Text: COPYRIGHT 2000 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Byline: Andrew Roth
The achievements of Lord Hughes of Hawkhill, who has died aged 87, came late in his life as an active peer, and took the form of blistering attacks on the Conservative government during the last period of the Thatcher and Major era.
A junior Scottish minister for more than seven years in both of Harold Wilson's governments, chairman of the Glenrothes, and then the East Kilbride, development corporations, Hughes spent four years as chairman of the reforming royal commission on Scottish legal services. A supporter of Scottish home rule, in 1994 he criticised the anti-Labour gerrymandering of Scottish local government. In 1996, he ridiculed Tories who claimed Scottish self-government would inhibit foreign investment. His most scorching Lords speech was his attack on Margaret Thatcher in 1987 for trying out the poll tax on Scotland. William Hughes was born in Dundee, educated at the local technical college and worked in the jute industry before switching to Argus Construction, of which he later became managing director. His social conscience led him into Labour politics; he was elected as a Dundee coun cillor at the age of 22, a post he held for nearly 30 years. He became city treasurer, lord provost and HM lieutenant of Dundee (1954-60).
During the second world war, Hughes served in India, Burma and Borneo, before being demobilised as a captain. He twice fought unsuccessfully to become and MP, and was elevated with a life peerage in 1961. His wife, Christian, died in 1994 and he leaves two daughters.
Andrew Roth
William Hughes, Baron Hughes of Hawkhill, public servant, born January 22 1911; died December 31 1999
Article CJ75792433
Parents James Gordon and Sophia
Details of marriage and children originally from Jane Cairns.
Occ Grocer from death cert dau Susan
1841 census match
Piece: SCT1841/253 Place: Benholm-Kincardineshire Enumeration District: 4 Civil Parish: Benholm Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 4 Page: 9 Address: Johnshaven SHERET James M 60 Ag Lab Kincardineshire
SHERET Helen F 25 Female Servant Kincardineshire
SHERET Susan F 20 Kincardineshire
Details of marriage and children originally from Jane Cairns.
Date of death from Alexander Bisset.
An Ann Will was chr at Bervie 3 Mar 1753, parents James Will and Ann Robert
Married Robert Henderson 5 Feb 1893 at Bervie
Occ Chauffeur
Arrived US 24 April 1906, moved to California 10 April 1908
Became citizen in 1916, living at 929 N Normandie Ave, Los Angeles
On Draft Card described as Mechanic with Standard Oil
1920 census, same address, occ Auto Mechanic
1930 Whittier City, L.A., CA occ Foreman in Garage
1924-60 Voters Registration 301 S Bright Ave, Los Angeles (Republican)
ss# 546 01 7806
dob given as 20 May 1873, mother's name Conneall death date 4 June 1968
Surname from daughter's birth
arr US 1898 (1930 census)1937 visited home with daughter
Marriage based on e-mail from Ken Coul
Parents David Valentine and Catherine Whyte
1861 census
Name: David Valentine Age: 32 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1829 Relationship: Head Spouse's name : Ann Gender: Male Where born: Farnell, Forfarshire Registration Number: 280 Registration district: Craig Civil Parish: Craig County: Angus Address: Baldovie Occupation: Toll Collector ED: 1 Household schedule number: 32 Line: 11 Roll: CSSCT1861_37 Household Members:
Name Age
Ann Valentine <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1861Scotland&indiv=try&h=1567049> 35
Catherine Valentine <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1861Scotland&indiv=try&h=1567050> 7
David Valentine <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1861Scotland&indiv=try&h=1567048> 32
David Valentine <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1861Scotland&indiv=try&h=1567052> 1
Elspeth Valentine <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1861Scotland&indiv=try&h=1567051> 31871 census
Name: David Valentine Age: 40 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831 Relationship: Head Spouse's name : Ann Gender: Male Where born: Farnell, Forfarshire Registration Number: 286 Registration district: Farnell Civil Parish: Farnell County: Angus Address: Ead Carcary Farm Garss Occupation: Ag Lab ED: 3 Household schedule number: 24 Line: 5 Roll: CSSCT1871_55 Household Members:
Name Age
Ann Valentine <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1871Scotland&indiv=try&h=3773278> 45
David Valentine <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1871Scotland&indiv=try&h=3773277> 40
David Valentine <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1871Scotland&indiv=try&h=3773280> 11
Elsie Valentine <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1871Scotland&indiv=try&h=3773279> 13
1881 census match
Dwelling: Balnakettle Cottar House
Census Place: Fettercairn, Kincardine, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203469 GRO Ref Volume 257 EnumDist 3 Page 2
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
David VALENTINE M 50 M Farnell, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Ag Lab
Ann VALENTINE M 55 F Garvock, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Elsie VALENTINE U 23 F St Cyrus, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Housemaid Domestic Serv
Possible 1841 census match
Piece: SCT1841/250 Place: Arbuthnot-Kincardineshire Enumeration District: 4 Civil Parish: Arbuthnott Ecclesiastical Parish, Village or Island: - Folio: 4 Page: 5 Address: Oldcake Surname First name(s) Sex Age Occupation Where Born Remarks
FULLARTON Alexander M 50 Farmer Outside Census County (1841)
FULLARTON Ann F 35 Kincardineshire
FULLARTON William M 5 Kincardineshire
FULLARTON Catharine F 3 Kincardineshire
FULLARTON Jessie F 8m Kincardineshire
MURRAY Ann F 15 Female Servant & Ag. Lab Kincardineshire
GIBB Ann F 10 Female Servant Outside Census County (1841)
THOMSON Catherine F 15 Female Servant & Ag. Lab Outside Census County (1841)
1881 census with parents
Marriage advised by George Murray Corness in e-mail 7/26/05
1841 census
County of Kincardine Parish of Garvock ED 4
Page 2 Over Tulls
John Murray 45 Ag Lab Y
Margaret do 50 N
Thomas do 9 Y
David do 7 YOcc Ploughman , marriage of dau Eliza
Perhaps in Benholm, Kinc. in 1861 quarry labourer age 46 born Dun.
Perhaps married Susan Galloway 9 Dec 1864 at Benholm
Possible 1881 census match
Dwelling: Back Street
Census Place: Benholm, Kincardine, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203468 GRO Ref Volume 253 EnumDist 4 Page 13
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
James MURRAY M 66 M Dunn, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Garden Labourer
Susan MURRAY M 60 F Benholm, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Occ: Garden Labourer Wife
Possible 1881 census match
Dwelling:
Census Place: Montrose, Forfar, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203498 GRO Ref Volume 312 EnumDist 33 Page 5
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
William MURRAY M 62 M Craig, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: General Lab
Jane MURRAY M 61 F St Cyrus, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Wife
William SHEPHERD M 38 M Forfar, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Boarder
Occ: Mason
William SMITH M 29 M Forfar, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Boarder
Occ: Blacksmith
Church records also show dau Eliza being chr 26 Dec 1822, needs further investigation.
Possible 1881 census match
Dwelling: Castleton Cottar Hse
Census Place: Fordoun, Kincardine, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203470 GRO Ref Volume 259 EnumDist 3 Page 6
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Robert MURRAY M 56 M Laurencekirk, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Agricultural Labourer
Helen MURRAY M 58 F Arbuthnott, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Occ: Agricultural Labourer Wife
Unlikely 1881 census match (A Thomas Murray married Elizabeth Watt 06 Feb1872 Laurencekirk)
Dwelling: Blackiemuir
Census Place: Laurencekirk, Kincardine, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203470 GRO Ref Volume 263 EnumDist 6 Page 12
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Thomas MURRAY M 50 M Garvock, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Farmer Of 126 Acres Arable Employing 2 Men 1 Woman
Elizabeth MURRAY M 36 F Marykirk, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Occ: Farmers Wife
James MURRAY 8 M Laurencekirk, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Lizzie MURRAY 5 F Laurencekirk, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Clarence MURRAY 3 M Laurencekirk, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Son
Unlikely 1881 census match (A David Murray married Jane Lamb 12 Dec 1862 Montrose)
Dwelling: Muir
Census Place: Laurencekirk, Kincardine, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203470 GRO Ref Volume 263 EnumDist 6 Page 5
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
David MURRAY M 48 M Garvock, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Farmer Of 117 Acres Arable Employing 2 Boys & 1 Girl
Jane MURRAY M 51 F Montrose, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Occ: Farmers Wife
John MURRAY U 17 M Montrose, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Farmers Son
William MURRAY U 16 M Montrose, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Farmers Son
Mary Jane MURRAY U 15 F Montrose, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Farmers Daur
David MURRAY 12 M Montrose, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Agnes MURRAY 10 F Montrose, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
Martha MURRAY 9 F Montrose, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
DoB given by LDS member (seems very young!) If correct, parents were John Kirkland and Margaret Farquhar.
Other children with Elizabeth Arnot
William KIRKLAND Male Christening: 24 JUL 1783 Brechin, Angus, Scotland
Elizabeth KIRKLAND Female Christening: 20 APR 1785 Brechin, Angus, Scotland John KIRKLAND Male Christening: 19 OCT 1786 Brechin, Angus, Scotland
An Elizabeth Arnot chr 14 Sep 1747 at Brechin. Parents James Arnot and Oliz Ord.
1881 census match
Dwelling: Sadlers Shop
Census Place: Fordoun, Kincardine, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203470 GRO Ref Volume 259 EnumDist 4 Page 8
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Thomas VALENTINE M 28 M Garvock, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Master Tailor Emp 1 Man
Mary VALENTINE M 29 F Fettercairn, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Wife
Occ: Tailors Wife
John N. VALENTINE 2 M Fordoun, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Son
Birth details from LDS Pedigree Resource File
Other children
ANN NICOLL Female Christening: 28 JAN 1854 Tannadice, Angus, Scotland
JOHN NICOL Male Birth: 02 JUN 1856 Tannadice, Angus, Scotland
MARGARET NICOL Female Birth: 11 AUG 1861 Fordoun, Kincardine, Scotland
JAMES NICOL Male Birth: 30 JUL 1863 Fordoun, Kincardine, Scotland1881 census
Dwelling: Daladies Cottar Ho
Census Place: Fettercairn, Kincardine, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203469 GRO Ref Volume 257 EnumDist 6 Page 3
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
John NICOL W 58 M Fordoun, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Agricultural Labourer
James NICOL U 17 M Fordoun, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Agricultural Labourer
Ann JOLLY U 50 F Dunnottar, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Sister By Law
Occ: Domestic Servant
Parents James Jolly and Ann Dunbar LDS Pedigree Resource File
Parents Thomas Stuart and Ann Petrie
1881 census
Dwelling: Angle Field
Census Place: Fettercairn, Kincardine, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203469 GRO Ref Volume 257 EnumDist 7 Page 7
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Robert STEWART M 60 M Fettercairn, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Crofter (11 Acres)
Eliza (Beth) STEWART M 58 F Fettercairn, Kincardine, Scotland
Rel: Wife