James Wilson
James (Bunny) A B Wilson
1931-2024
Class of 1950
James, affectionately known by his friends as Bunny, joined The High School of Glasgow in Kindergarten in 1936. An active and enthusiastic member of the School’s 1st XV Rugby Team, he was awarded a Cap at the end of session 1948/49 and also featured in the Glasgow Schools’ XV that season. He stayed at the former boys’ school, then based at Elmbank Street, until his Fifth Year in 1949. From here, he took up an Engineering Apprenticeship at Barclay Curle Shipyard where his father was a manager.
After his apprenticeship, Bunny took on a role at the yard’s Drawing Office before joining the Merchant Navy as a Junior Engineering Officer. After travelling to various corners of the world, he bid goodbye to life at sea and joined the company Scotland and Ireland for Cochrane Boilers (later to become Rolls Royce) as a Sales Manager.
Working for the company for more than 35 years, he travelled to many locations worldwide promoting the business’s technological capabilities, large capacity industrial boilers and engineering prowess. He also successfully secured numerous major contracts across different continents, one of which was providing nine 30-tonne boilers for Baghdad, Iraq.
Since leaving school, Bunny kept up-to-date with life at HSOG. He enjoyed playing Rugby with fellow former pupils at Old Anniesland for a number of years, and was a member of the Championship winning team of 1954. Latterly, he thoroughly enjoyed attending the Elmbank Street Coffee Mornings and reminiscing with his friends over a coffee and bacon roll. In April 2022, Jim and his wife Norma were given a tour of the Senior School; it was a memorable and special occasion for all involved, particularly as three of his grandchildren currently attend the School.
On Thursday 4th April 2024, Jim passed away peacefully at home at the age of 93. He leaves behind his loving wife of 63 years, Norma, his children: Donald, Russell and Stewart as well as his eight grandchildren: Andrew, Kerr, Oliver, Rowan, Brodie, Emma, Sandy and Eliza.
Tribute written by the Wilson family.
