Robert Fairbairn
Sir Robert Duncan Fairbairn | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Longhirst, Northumberland, England |
| Died | March 26, 1988 (aged 77) Guildford, England |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, sportsman |
| Years active | 1927–1985 |
| Known for | Chairman of Clydesdale Bank (1975–1985), Scottish cricketer, footballer for St Johnstone |
Sir Robert Duncan Fairbairn (25 September 1910 – 26 March 1988) was a Scottish banker and an enthusiastic sportsman who held the position of chairman at Clydesdale Bank between 1975 and 1985. His athletic pursuits included participating in two first-class cricket matches, one representing Scotland, as well as playing football for St Johnstone in the Scottish Football League.
Early life and career
Fairbairn was born in Longhirst, Northumberland, as the fourth child among five siblings. His family relocated to Perth, where he attended the Perth Academy. His father served as the head gamekeeper for Lord Forteviot at Dupplin Castle. At the age of 17, Fairbairn began his banking career by joining the Clydesdale Bank branch in Perth.
In sports, he represented Dupplin and Perthshire cricket clubs and excelled in junior football playing as an inside-forward for St Johnstone YMCA. He signed with St Johnstone as an amateur in June 1930 and made his first senior appearance two months later. After transferring to Clydesdale Bank’s Glasgow headquarters, he played cricket for West of Scotland and football with a Queen's Park team.
In 1934, Fairbairn was awarded the Beckett & Whitehead Prize by the Institute of Bankers and subsequently joined the Midland Bank. While stationed in Bolton, he played minor counties cricket for Cheshire during 1938–39, participating in seven matches. His debut in first-class cricket came when he represented Scotland against Yorkshire at Harrogate.
WWII and later career with Clydesdale Bank
In 1939, Fairbairn enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), serving until 1946 and achieving the rank of Lieutenant commander. During his military tenure, he appeared in one first-class cricket game in British India, playing for the Europeans during the 1944/45 Bombay Pentangular tournament at Bombay. Following his wartime service, he returned to banking and was appointed assistant general manager at Clydesdale Bank in 1951.
He received a knighthood in the 1975 Birthday Honours recognizing his contributions to Scotland’s development and led Clydesdale Bank as chairman from 1975 until 1985. Fairbairn died in Guildford in March 1988.