Faculty pays tribute to Lord Prosser

The Faculty of Advocates paid tribute to William David Prosser, Lord Prosser, former dean of Faculty and a senator of the College of Justice who has died aged 80.

After attending Edinburgh Academy and graduating from Corpus Christi College, the University of Oxford, and Edinburgh University, he was admitted to Faculty in 1962 and took silk in 1974.

He was elected vice-dean in 1979, and then dean in 1983 and held office until he was elevated to the bench in 1986. He retired in 2001.

Lord Prosser had a great interest in the arts and served in many posts, including as chairman of the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company and chairman of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland.

He was also a former trustee of the Franco-British Council, a past president of the Franco-British Lawyers Society and held the honour, Officier, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France).

James Wolffe QC, dean of Faculty, said: “Lord Prosser was an advocate and judge of towering intellect, and a man of enormous humanity and wide cultural interests.

“Among his many contributions to Scotland’s legal and cultural life, he was dean of the Faculty of Advocates from 1983 to 1986. He will be greatly missed.”