Tributes been paid to Scotland’s former Lord Advocate and former Angus MP Lord Fraser of Carmyllie who died suddenly at home near Arbroath on Saturday from a heart attack. He was 68.
His widow, Lady Fiona Fraser, was being comforted at home by family. She told The Courier her husband had experienced heart problems a few years ago but Saturday’s heart attack came “out of the blue”.
She said: “The family are devastated by this sudden loss. He was a much-loved father of three and grandfather of seven.”
Commenting on his death, First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Lord Fraser leaves an outstanding record of public service to Scotland as a politician and particularly as Lord Advocate.
“More recently, he readily agreed to serve as an independent adviser to the Scottish Government on the Ministerial Code another public service he performed without fear, favour or any remuneration.
“Scottish public life is much poorer for his passing and my thoughts are with his wife, Fiona, and their family at this sad time.”
Johann Lamont, Scottish Labour leader, said: “Lord Fraser dedicated his life to public service and enjoyed a remarkable career, from the Lockerbie investigation to the inquiry into the parliament.
“He was a popular figure across the political divide and I know he will be greatly missed.”
Lord Peter Fraser QC, who led the inquiry into the Scottish Parliament building project and the Lockerbie bombing prosecution, was educated at Loretto School, Musselburgh, and graduated from Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, before going to Edinburgh University.
He was called to the Scottish Bar in 1969 and from 1972 he lectured part-time in constitutional law at Heriot-Watt University for two years.
In 1979 he was appointed Standing Junior Counsel for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and became a Queen’s Counsel in 1982.
He was elected as a Conservative MP for Angus in 1979, where he remained in the House of Commons until June 1987. He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to George Younger, Secretary of State for Scotland.
In 1982 he was appointed Solicitor-General for Scotland by Margaret Thatcher and became Lord Advocate in 1989, when he was made a life peer and a member of the Privy Council.
During his time as Lord Advocate he had ultimate responsibility for the Pan Am 103 Lockerbie investigation. He appeared for the UK in both the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
From 1992 to 1995 he was Minister of State at the Scottish Office, covering home affairs and health, then Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry, with a particular emphasis on overseas investment in oil and gas.
In 1996 he became Minister for Energy.