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- John, 9th Duke of Buccleuch and 11th Duke of Queensberry, Knight of the Thistle, who has died at the age of 83, lived a life of extraordinary richness and courage, but he will be remembered in particular for his commitment to the countryside and inspirational leadership in rural affairs. Like many of his forebears, a keen and knowledgeable agriculturalist and forester, he ensured that the extensive family estates spread throughout the south of Scotland and Northamptonshire remained in the vanguard of innovative and energetic land management.
Born Walter, Francis, John, Montagu Douglas Scott on September 28th 1923, he was brought up in the shadow of the Eildon Hills near Melrose and was imbued from his earliest years with a passionate love for the Scottish Borders.
Educated at Eton he found himself as a member of the School Fire Brigade helping extinguish a blaze in his own boarding house after it was hit by German fire bombs. Soon afterwards he joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman and he saw service in destroyers and sloops escorting Atlantic convoys, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Later in life he derived enormous pleasure from his appointment as one of four Honorary Captains of the Royal Naval Reserve.
After he was demobilised he went to Oxford and it was there that a lifelong interest in politics emerged. During his chairmanship of the University Conservative Association he and some friends helped foster the career of the young Margaret Roberts who went on to become Britain's first women Prime Minister. After serving as a county councillor for Roxburghshire, he himself entered Parliament in 1960 as Conservative and Unionist Member for North Edinburgh, a seat he was to hold for 13 years fighting off in 1970 a challenge from the late Robin Cook. Despite being paralysed from the chest down due to breaking his back in a riding accident in 1971 he continued his Parliamentary career earning great applause for his courage until on the death of his father, Walter, in 1973 he succeeded to the Dukedom.
At the heart of his work was the historic estate ? at once a business, a community and a mini national Trust as he often said - and he was tireless in his efforts to build bridges of understanding between town and country. He pioneered the provision of special educational opportunities through the Living Landscape Trust and the Buccleuch Heritage Trust at each of his four historic homes, Boughton in Northmptonshire, Bowhill near Selkirk, Dalkeith just outside Edinburgh and Drumlanrig Castle in the south west of Scotland. Several tens of thousands of schoolchildren visited on his renowned Schools Open Days. In particular he was proud of the open doors policy of the Buccleuch Estates and regularly lamented the fact that more people did not make use of the wonderful countryside in his care.
His focus on the estates never prevented him from giving generously of time and imagination to numerous other causes and charities. In particular, following his accident, he campaigned for those with disabilities becoming Chairman of the Central Council for the Disabled and spearheading the creation of RADAR, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation as the main link between government and hundreds of disablement charities throughout the land. In 1985 he was invited by Deng Xiao Ping's son to visit China and advise on the establishment of a similar charity there.
His disabilities did not deter him from travelling to New Zealand in 1989 as Chairman of the Commonwealth Forestry Association for its triennial conference, in addition to annual events in the UK. Among his great variety of activities was his involvement with the Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland (The Royal Company of Archers), where he served both on the Council and as President of the Council.
In 1974, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Roxburgh, and then Ettrick and Lauderdale. Following his election in 1990 as Chairman of the Association of Lord-Lieutenants, he completely reorganised it into a cohesive active body, before retiring in 1998.
His other charitable connections included Presidency of the St Andrew's Ambulance Association, the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution, and the Scottish National Institution for War Blinded and the Royal Blind Asylum School amongst others.
The part he has played in the world of culture has been considerable. From an early age he was brought up in historic houses of international renown with some of the greatest art collections. Much of his life has been spent as an active art curator. The great knowledge he built up led to his being consulted on conservation matters and as a lender to exhibitions world-wide, with as many as sixty items on loan at any one time.
In 1978, he was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Thistle (KT), the highest honour in Scotland, the Scottish equivalent of the Knighthood of the Garter (KG) in England. In 1993, he was appointed Chancellor of the Order.
His hobbies included painting, rare books and music that involved what he used to refer to as "tormenting the French Horn".
In January 1953, as Earl of Dalkeith, he married Jane McNeill of Colonsay, in St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, and they had four children, three sons and one daughter who between them have produced 9 grandchildren.
The Duke remained active until the end of his life. Only three weeks ago he and the Duchess hosted an event held at Bowhill at which certificates were presented to employees who had served on the estates for more than 30 years.
It was testament to his strength and tenacity that he refused to let his failing health stand in the way of duty ? a gesture much appreciated by his staff.
Lord Dalkeith succeeds his father to the Dukedom.
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