Ronald Colville, 2nd Baron Clydesmuir facts for kids

Ronald John Bilsland Colville, 2nd Baron Clydesmuir (born May 21, 1917 – died October 2, 1996), was an important Scottish soldier and businessman. He held many significant positions. For example, he was the Governor of the Bank of Scotland. He also served as the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire and was the Captain General of the Queen's Bodyguard in Scotland. People remembered him as a kind and dedicated person who served Scotland well.

Growing Up in Scotland

Ronald Colville was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1917. He was the only son of John Colville. His father was also a very important person. He served as the Secretary of State for Scotland and later as the Governor of Bombay in India. Ronald followed in his father's footsteps for his education. He went to Charterhouse School and then to Trinity College, Cambridge University.

Serving in the Military

After finishing university in 1939, Ronald Colville joined the army. He was 22 years old when World War II began. He joined a Scottish regiment called the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). His father had also served in this regiment during World War I.

Ronald Colville fought in many important battles. He was part of the action at Dunkirk, in Italy, and during the Normandy landings. He received an award called the MBE for his service. He also had his bravery mentioned in official reports. He served throughout World War II and for a short time afterward.

The Cameronians regiment was known for recruiting soldiers from Glasgow and the Lanarkshire area. This was a big industrial part of Scotland. Ronald Colville always respected the people he fought alongside. He enjoyed sharing funny stories about their time together. He made many lifelong friends during his military service.

Even after the war, he stayed connected to the Army. He became the Chairman of the Council for the Territorial, Auxiliary and Volunteer Associations. He also commanded a battalion of the Cameronians and later became its Honorary Colonel. His time in the army taught him discipline and directness. He never forgot the sacrifices made by the soldiers who served with him.

A Career in Business

In 1958, Ronald Colville joined the board of Colvilles Limited. He also became very active in the Scottish Council (Development & Industry). This group worked to bring new industries to Scotland. Their goal was to make Scotland less dependent on older, heavy industries. They also helped Scottish businesses sell their products to other countries.

Ronald Colville became the chairman of this council in 1966. Later, he became its President in 1972. He held this role until 1986. He even led trade missions to countries like the Soviet Union and China.

He became very involved in banking and finance. He also took an interest in Scotland's growing oil and gas industry. He was asked to join the boards of many companies. One of his early roles was as a director of the British Linen Bank. In 1966, he became the Governor of that bank.

When the British Linen Bank merged with the Bank of Scotland in 1971, he became the Deputy Governor. In 1972, he was chosen to be the Governor of the Bank of Scotland. He held this important position until he retired in 1981. During his time as Governor, the bank grew a lot. It expanded its business within Scotland, England, and around the world. New technology was also introduced during this period.

Awards and Recognition

Ronald Colville received many awards and honors for his service. These show how highly people regarded him. Besides his war awards, he was appointed a CB in 1965. He also became a Knight of the Thistle in 1972. This is a very high honor in Scotland.

He served as the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1971 and 1972. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire from 1963 to 1992. This role represents the King or Queen in the area. He was also a long-time member of the Royal Company of Archers, which is the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland. From 1986 until shortly before his death, he was their Captain General. He also received special degrees from Strathclyde University and Heriot-Watt University. In 1978, he was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

His Family

Ronald Colville's family name was Colville. His family had lived in Scotland for a very long time. He was the great-grandson of David Colville. David Colville founded Colvilles Limited, a large iron and steel company. This company played a big part in the industrial growth of the United Kingdom.

His father, John Colville, became the first Baron Clydesmuir in 1948. Ronald inherited this title in 1954 when his father passed away. Lord Bilsland, another important Scottish industrialist, was his uncle. Ronald married Joan Booth. Her younger sister was Lady McCorkell.