Lord Wallace remembered as ‘man of sincerity and humility’ at Orkney funeral

The late Lord Wallace has been remembered as a “man of integrity, sincerity and humility” at his funeral on Orkney.

The funeral service for the former deputy first minister and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader was held at St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, on his adopted island home.

Political figures including Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and First Minister John Swinney attended the service on Tuesday.

Other from Lord Wallace’s party such as Scottish leader Alex Cole-Hamilton and MP Alistair Carmichael were also in attendance.

Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur paid an emotional tribute to his “friend and mentor”, recalling how Lord Wallace helped him start his career in politics more than 35 years ago.

Lord Wallace died at the end of January after suffering complications from surgery.

Flags were lowered to half mast at the Scottish Parliament and tributes were paid from across the political spectrum.

The former Scottish Lib Dem leader was Scotland’s first deputy first minister following devolution. He also acted as first minister on three occasions.

He had represented Orkney as both an MP and an MSP.

Lord Wallace was also a former moderator of the Church of Scotland’s general assembly.

The funeral service on Tuesday was conducted by the Rev Dr Marjory MacLean.

Addressing the family, friends and colleagues who had gathered at the island cathedral for the service, Dr MacLean said: “Jim’s appointment as Moderator was the most visible year of a life of Church involvement as a member, elder, commissioner to the General Assembly long before he chaired it, member of various church choirs, including at the time of his death simultaneous membership of choirs in two cathedrals – here and in Dunblane.

“And to the pinnacle-task, the moderatorship, he brought his wealth of knowledge of public life — all the contacts and instincts and understandings garnered over years at the heart of the dynamic of modern Scotland — but also a wealth of knowledge of Scotland’s spiritual life from the perspective of a thoughtful, prayerful, humble Christian servant.”

His brother Neil Wallace addressed mourners, saying: “He was an example because of his work ethic, his moral compass and the way he embraced challenges head-on.”

Neil said that despite his brother’s “towering intellect” he “never quite believed he was good enough”.

He continued: “Jim walked with kings, and never lost his love for or his empathy with people.”

Orkney’s MP Alistair Carmichael said that everyone on the island “knew someone who had been helped by Jim Wallace”.

Mr McArthur gave a eulogy to his “friend and mentor”, describing the late Lord Wallace as “a man of integrity, sincerity and humility”.

His plain-speaking nature meant that “what you saw was what you got – there were no sides to Jim”, the Lib Dem MSP explained.

Mr McArthur described how Lord Wallace gave him his first job in politics as a researcher, conducting the job interview in a Edinburgh Waverley railway station pub packed with Scotland football fans.

With his voice breaking, the Orkney MSP said: “He really was the best of men.

“As those Tartan Army fans in the Waverley Station bar sang that afternoon back in 1990: when will we see your like again?

“When indeed?”