University pays tribute to Sir George Reid

The University of Stirling is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Sir George Reid, Professorial Fellow in Politics, and former politician and Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, has led tributes to Sir George, who held the role of Professorial Fellow for more than a decade.

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac said: “Sir George was a towering intellect who enthusiastically contributed his vast wealth of knowledge to the teaching of our students.

“We, at the University, were privileged to benefit from his expertise gained through a distinguished career as a journalist, director of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, Member of Parliament, Member of the Scottish Parliament and Presiding Officer.

“We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sir George, and the University community will always remember his valuable contribution to Stirling and his pride at his association with our institution.”

Sir George was well known to students and staff at Stirling, particularly for his teaching of the MSc International Conflict and Cooperation.

He delivered the University's annual Williamson Lecture in 2004 and was a regular attendee at public events, lectures and seminars.

The University awarded an honorary doctorate to Sir George in June 2008 to recognise his remarkable contribution to public life.

When he took up the post of Professorial Fellow, Sir George said he was “so pleased” to be afforded the opportunity to “share some of my international and political experience in an academic context.”

PhD Researcher Rebecca Main, who worked closely with Sir George in her role as Postgraduate Programme Tutor for the MSc International Conflict and Cooperation Programme, said: “Stirling was fortunate to have Sir George teach its students. There was never a class we left where it wasn’t clear just how grateful the students were to be taught by someone who challenged them in every capacity.

“Sir George showed us how on-the-ground experience could be brought to life in academia, and his passion was utterly infectious.

“Sir George didn’t receive all those rounds of applause at the end of a class for nothing. I believe he left an impression on all of his students, one they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

Born in Tullibody, Clackmannanshire, in 1939, Sir George graduated with first-class honours from the University of St Andrews in 1964, and later studied international affairs, humanitarian law and conflict resolution in the United States, Switzerland and Sweden.

Sir George worked as a print and broadcast journalist before he was elected as the Scottish National Party (SNP) Member of Parliament for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire, serving for five years.

In the following 12 years he worked worldwide in wars and disasters as a director of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva. He returned to politics when the new Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999, as an SNP MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife.

In 2003 he resigned his membership of the SNP to take up the prestigious post of Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament, which he held until 2007. Sir George was knighted in 2012 for services to Scottish politics and public life.