William Kerr Fraser
Encyclopedia
Sir William Kerr Fraser GCB
(born 18 May 1929) is a retired British civil servant, who served as Permanent Secretary
at the Scottish Office
, and as Principal
and later Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
.
(M.A., LL.B.), where he was President of the Students' Representative Council
from 1951-52.
in 1959, and to the Secretary of State
in 1966. In 1967, he became Assistant Secretary at the Regional Development Division, and in 1971 became Under-Secretary at the Scottish Home and Health Department. In 1975, he became Deputy Secretary, and in 1978 Permanent Secretary
at the Scottish Office
, serving until 1988. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath
(CB) in 1978, and created a Knight Commander of the order (KCB) in 1979 and a Knight Grand Cross of the order (GCB) in 1984.
of the University of Glasgow
in 1988 and served in these posts until 1995. In 1996, he was elected Chancellor of the University
. He stood down from this role in 2006 and was succeeded by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman
. The HUB Building at the University of Glasgow has recently been refurbished as a student services centre and is named the Fraser Building in his honour. He was awarded an honorary LL.D. by the University in 1982.
, a Past President of the Queen Margaret Union
, then the women's union
of the University of Glasgow. They have three sons and one daughter.
Sir William served as Governor of the Caledonian Research Foundation from 1990–99 and Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
from 1995–2000. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
in 1985, and an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
in 1992, and of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
in 1995. He has received honorary degrees (LL.D.) from the Universities of Glasgow
(1982), Strathclyde
(1991) and Aberdeen
(1993), and a Doctorate honoris causa from Edinburgh
(1995).
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(born 18 May 1929) is a retired British civil servant, who served as Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
at the Scottish Office
Scottish Office
The Scottish Office was a department of the United Kingdom Government from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland...
, and as Principal
Principal of the University of Glasgow
The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principal is appointed by the University Court and is...
and later Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of Glasgow and President of the General Council, by whom he is elected. The office is intended to be held for life. His principal duty is to confer degrees upon those presented to him by the Senate, although this role is usually carried out by...
.
Early life
William Kerr Fraser was educated at Eastwood High School in Glasgow. He studied at the University of GlasgowUniversity of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
(M.A., LL.B.), where he was President of the Students' Representative Council
Glasgow University Students' Representative Council
Glasgow University Students' Representative Council was founded on 9th March 1886 and recognised as the legal representative body for students of the University of Glasgow by the Universities Act 1889. The SRC is responsible for representing students' interests to the management of the University...
from 1951-52.
Civil Service
He joined the Scottish Home Department, part of the Civil Service, in 1953, becoming Private Secretary to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of StateUnder-Secretary of State for Scotland
The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland is a junior ministerial post in the United Kingdom government, supporting the Secretary of State for Scotland...
in 1959, and to the Secretary of State
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
in 1966. In 1967, he became Assistant Secretary at the Regional Development Division, and in 1971 became Under-Secretary at the Scottish Home and Health Department. In 1975, he became Deputy Secretary, and in 1978 Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
at the Scottish Office
Scottish Office
The Scottish Office was a department of the United Kingdom Government from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland...
, serving until 1988. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(CB) in 1978, and created a Knight Commander of the order (KCB) in 1979 and a Knight Grand Cross of the order (GCB) in 1984.
University of Glasgow
Sir William became Principal and Vice-ChancellorPrincipal of the University of Glasgow
The Principal of the University of Glasgow is the working head of the University, acting as its chief executive. He is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University as well as its strategic planning and administration. The Principal is appointed by the University Court and is...
of the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in 1988 and served in these posts until 1995. In 1996, he was elected Chancellor of the University
Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of Glasgow and President of the General Council, by whom he is elected. The office is intended to be held for life. His principal duty is to confer degrees upon those presented to him by the Senate, although this role is usually carried out by...
. He stood down from this role in 2006 and was succeeded by Professor Sir Kenneth Calman
Kenneth Calman
Sir Kenneth Charles Calman, KCB, DL, FRSE is a Scottish cancer researcher and former Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, and then England. He was Warden and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University from 1998 to 2006, before becoming Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. He has held the position of...
. The HUB Building at the University of Glasgow has recently been refurbished as a student services centre and is named the Fraser Building in his honour. He was awarded an honorary LL.D. by the University in 1982.
Personal life
In 1956, Fraser married Marion ForbesMarion Fraser
Lady Marion Fraser, is a Scottish music educator.-Personal life:She was born as Marion Anne Forbes to Robert Forbes and Elizabeth Taylor Watt, and educated at Hutchesons' Girls' Grammar School , the University of Glasgow , and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama...
, a Past President of the Queen Margaret Union
Queen Margaret Union
The Queen Margaret Union is one of two students' unions at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1890, it caters for the social and cultural needs of its members by providing a range of services including, entertainments, catering, shop facilities, bars and games.-History:The Queen...
, then the women's union
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
of the University of Glasgow. They have three sons and one daughter.
Sir William served as Governor of the Caledonian Research Foundation from 1990–99 and Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government 'sponsored' [financed and with oversight] through Historic Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government...
from 1995–2000. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
in 1985, and an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is an institute of physicians and surgeons in Glasgow, Scotland.Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, this institution originally existed as a regulatory authority to ensure that...
in 1992, and of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is a conservatoire of music, drama, and dance in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Educational Association, it is the busiest performing arts venue in Scotland...
in 1995. He has received honorary degrees (LL.D.) from the Universities of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
(1982), Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
(1991) and Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
(1993), and a Doctorate honoris causa from Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
(1995).