Wightman, John Watt

Milestones

Birth: November 20, 1933, Leith

Marriage:  February  24 1962, to Isla McLeod, in Glasgow

Death: September 19, 2021, Edinburgh

 Short Life Summary

John was the elder of the two children of Robert Johnson Wightman and Edith Laing.

Growing up in Leith and North Berwick, he developed an early love for boats and the sea. He excelled academically, becoming Dux and Head Boy at Daniel Stewart’s College, and graduating with a First  Class MA from St Andrews University in 1955.

His National Service (1955-1957) in the Royal Navy included active duty in Cyprus and commanding landing craft during the Suez Crisis. This experience led to a 35-year career in the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR), where he rose to Commodore, the highest-ranking officer, by 1982.

After National Service, now with an LlB from the University of Edinburgh,  John followed his father into law. A partner in his firm from 1961 until 1999 his reputations were as an effective, thorough general practitioner of the law, unusual in a large firm and as a thoughtful and patient trainer of new intrants to the profession (also unusual in a large firm.)

He became Solicitor to the Queen in Scotland (1983-1999), receiving the Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1998.

John was survived by Isla and their three children: Rona, Janet, and Robbie.

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