Histories

Biographical Information: JOHN ROBERT PURVIS, C.B.E., born 6th July 1938 in the Memorial Cottage Hospital, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Lieutenant Scots Guards Reserve (Military National Service 1956-58). Graduated (1962) M.A. (Hons) from St Andrews University, St Andrews. Worked (1962-69) with First National City Bank in London, England, New York City, New York, and Milan, Italy. Treasurer of Noble Grossart Limited, Edinburgh, Scotland (1969-73), after which he set up his own international business consultancy firms Gilmerton Management Services Limited (1973) and Purvis and Company (1986). Director of James River UK Holdings Ltd (1984-95), Edgar Astaire & Co. Ltd (1993-94), European Utilities Trust Plc (1994-2007), Jamont N.V. (1994–95), Crown Vantage Ltd (1995-2001), Curtis Fine Papers Ltd (1995-2001), Chairman (1997-2008) and Director (from 2008) of Kingdom FM Radio Ltd (2011), Chairman (from 1998) of Belgrave Capital Management Ltd, London (2011), Chairman (from 2009) of Financial Future Forum Ltd, St Andrews and Brussels, Belgium (2011), Senior Advisor (from 2009) to Cabinet DN, Brussels (2011) and Advisor (from 2010) to the Board of Elmwood College, Cupar, Fife (2011). Elected Conservative Member of the European Parliament for Mid-Scotland and Fife (1979-84), deputy chief whip, spokesperson on energy, research and technology and on monetary affairs. Member of the Independent Broadcasting Authority and Chairman for Scotland (1985-89). Vice President of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Association (1987-89) and Chairman of their Economic Policy Committee (1986–97). Reelected (1999 and 2004) Conservative Member of the European Parliament for Scotland (retired 2009), Vice Chairman of the Economic & Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament (2001-09). Appointed C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for political services (1990). Purchased (1986) Carsaig estate, Pennyghael, Isle of Mull, Argyllshire, Scotland, from his father (jointly with Robert C. Williams of Richmond, Virginia) and sold it (26th June 1992) to Mark Horton. Succeeded (1987) to Gilmerton and Brigton estate, near St Andrews, and (2001) to Brigton House from his father and Kingsbarns House from his aunt Wilhelmina Henrietta Mary Purvis or Morrison-Low (see 1.1.3.6.1.10.3. below). Purchased (December 1997) the house at 106 South Church Street, Sheperdstown, West Virginia. Passed over (July 2005) ownership of Gilmerton House, near St Andrews, to his son Robert Kenneth Berry Purvis (see 1.1.3.6.1.10.2.1.3. below). Brought up at Brigton, near St Andrews, living (1946-48) at 25 Frauenthal, Hamburg, Germany, (1948-62) at Brigton, (1962-63) at 44 Grosvenor Square, London, (1963-65) at 127 East 72nd Street, New York City, (1965-69) at Viale Majno 17, Milan, (1969-2010) at Gilmerton and (from 2010) at Brigton (2011). Married (25th August 1962 at Zion Episcopal Church, Charles Town, West Virginia) Louise Spears Durham (born 1st January 1941 at Chattanooga, Tennessee) (see OA.689), founder, trustee and vice-chairman (from 1982) of Prison Fellowship Scotland (2011), (1988) founder of The Scottish National Prayer Breakfast, and (2011) trustee and member of its executive committee, youngest daughter of Kenneth Augustus Durham (born 13th November 1906 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, died 2nd September 1971 in Charles Town, buried at Shepherdstown) (see OA.687 – 1.1.1.4.3.6.2.3.5.1.) and Mary Josephine Snowdon (born 19th October 1904 in New York, died 24th December 1974 at Charles Town, buried at Shepherdstown) (see OA.666 – 1.1.2.1.9.2.2.2.), having three children:-