SIR JOHN FALCONER

FORMER LORD PROVOST

OF EDINBURGH

Sir John Ireland Falconer, LL.D., Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1944 to 1947, died yesterday at his home at Colinton, Edinburgh. He was 74.

The son of the Rev. Charles Falconer, of Fortrose, Ross-shire, he was born in 1879 and was educated at George Watson's College and Edinburgh University. During the 19141918 War he served with The Royal Scots, retiring in 1921 with the rank of major, and in 1932 he was elected to the Edinburgh City Council. He was made a justice of the peace in 1938 and a deputy lieutenant in 1940. After serving on the City Council as member and convener of a number of committees, and later as City Treasurer, he succeeded Sir William Darling as Lord Provost in 1944. In 1946 he received the accolade of knighthood at the hands of King George VI during a royal visit to Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Festival was inaugurated during his last year as Lord Provost. and after his rctirement from office he went to New Zealand to represent Edinburgh at the celebration of the centenary of Dlunedin.

By profession he was a writer to the signet and to his wisdom and determination must be ascribed a large measure of the credit for the success of the annual Edinburgh Festival, which he guided through its initial difficulties and supported fully until his retirement from office in 1947. In 1952 he was appointed chairman of the Scottish Advisory Council of the B.B.C. He married in 1913 Catherine Louise Mary, daughter of the late John Norman Robinson, of Carlisle. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.