Gilbert Rennie
How many people in Kippen are now aware of the important contribution of Sir Gilbert Rennie (1895 – 1981)? In this portrait, c1910, he was a pupil at the High School of Stirling. The portrait is a recent gift to the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum collections by Archie MacCallum.
Gilbert Rennie was born and raised in Stirling. When the Great War broke out in 1914, he served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, winning the Military Cross. The rest of his life was dedicated to the colonial service, in Ceylon 1920 – 1937, and from 1937 – 1939 as Financial Secretary to the Gold Coast. From 1939 – 1947, he was Chief Secretary to Kenya. He was knighted in 1946 and was appointed as the first High Commissioner to Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1954.
He was very proud of his Stirling background, and he and his wife funded the first Heritage Room in the High School of Stirling in 1962. He is one of the people of Stirling who helped shape world history, and his life and contribution deserve to be celebrated in his home town.
Comment(1)
Maryon Jean Malcolm says
10th January 2021 at 7:57 PMI was proud to meet him but equally proud to have known (as well as an eight year old can know an adult) his brother Andrew who culminated a hard working and highly esteemed career as the village blacksmith/farrier, creating classic domestic pieces of wrought ironwork. I understand that their sister had a successful career in nursing in Glasgow. A talented family!