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Hail to Our Chief
Ian Francis Wallace
35th of that Ilk
1926 – 2016

Ian Wallace, 89, was an energetic fighter for and protector of Scotland’s place in the world, in the realms of technology, the arts, and of politics.  He used his skills learned from a lifetime in international business to work closely with Edinburgh University, wielding not cold steel, but financial acumen, in achieving the commercial development of its researchers’ ideas.  A principal project of the University’s venture capital Quantum Fund, of which he was a founder director in 1985, was the digital “vision chip”, now found in every mobile phone, camera, and drone.

Wallace was driven by a sense of frustration that Scotland had lost out to the United States in the race to be at the forefront of vision technology. This he blamed on the failure of financiers at home to move fast enough in support of her innovators’ work. In the 1980s he became a consultant to the University’s Centre for Industrial Liaison and Consultancy.  Wallace also helped to establish the University’s Centre for Human Ecology, taking a longstanding interest in promoting and developing the wider application of renewable energy.

In support of Scotland’s music, he took part in the management of the Scottish Baroque Ensemble, and for the visual arts, helped to establish the Leith School of Art, where he became a regular student at classes. But it was in politics that a strong will, undoubtedly passed down seven centuries from his illustrious ancestor, made itself felt.  He did not shrink from dismaying some of his friends by taking part, in the 1970s, in the earliest campaign for a Scottish Assembly, which led to the referendum on Scottish Devolution in 1979 and the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh 20 years later.

“He was passionate about Scotland and its potential as an independent nation”, his family recall. Nevertheless he displayed sensitivity in the potentially divisive debates that followed. “He remained absolutely resolute,” it is remembered of him, “but good-humoured.“

Wallace was 35th head of what is known, in Highland fashion, to its worldwide adherents as the “Clan Wallace”, but is in fact a Lowland family that originated from the south-west of Scotland. His tenure as chief coincided with the 700th anniversary, in 2005, of the execution of Sir William Wallace by King Edward I of England in London in 1305.

The son of Colonel Robert Francis Hurter Wallace of that Ilk, CMG, and of his wife Euphemia, herself a colonel’s daughter, Wallace was the youngest of three brothers. The eldest, Malcolm, from whom he inherited the Wallace chiefship in 1991, served with the Black Watch in the Second World War, Korea and Borneo; was Mentioned in Dispatches, and rose to be a Lieutenant Colonel. The other, Donald, was killed in action in Normandy in 1944.

Ian Francis Wallace was educated at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire, England, and did his national service in the army from 1944, going on to serve as a Lieutenant in the Middle East Land Forces (Arab Legion) in Palestine between 1946 and 1948. His experiences there made him, for the rest of his life, a committed supporter of the Palestinian cause.

He went up to New College, Oxford, in 1948 to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics, graduating MA in 1951.  There followed two years pursuing business studies at the Centre d’Etudes Industrielles, Geneva, during which Wallace also proved himself as a mountaineer, conquering, among other ascents, the Matterhorn. He also acquired a lifelong love of skiing.

He began his business career in 1954 with the Aluminium Ltd Group of Companies (Alcan), working in Canada and in Britain until 1959. He then joined the British-Australian mining company Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation (RTZ), now Rio Tinto Group.

In 1963, he married Teresa Hyne Buckingham, a clergyman’s daughter, and they would have two sons, Andrew and James, and a daughter, Henrietta.

Wallace spent much of his working life based in London at RTZ’s headquarters, and was not to bring his family back to Scotland until 1977.

The advent of the 1995 film Braveheart, directed by the American actor Mel Gibson, who also played William Wallace, and which set off a worldwide cult of the Scotland’s hero, proved something of an ordeal for Wallace. He did not care for the film’s sensational aspects, nor for what he saw as the liberties it took with history, but, friends remember, “ he weathered the Braveheart phenomenon with characteristically quiet good humour”.

Wallace remained all his life proud of his ancestor, who as one of the Guardians of Scotland was briefly head of state at the end of the 13th century, following his victory over the English at the battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. One of a number of ceremonies which took place in 2005 to mark the 700 years since the first Wallace’s death was at Stirling, site of the 19th-century Wallace Monument, now a focus of pilgrimage by enthusiasts worldwide.

Ian Wallace is survived by his wife and his three children. His son Andrew succeeds him as 36th Chief.  Just as did his ancestor, Ian Wallace took a broad view of the causes he supported, his favourite quotation being from GK Chesterton’s tale, “The Hammer of God”: “Humility is the mother of giants; one sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak.”

Chief Ian Francis Wallace will be missed by his family and the entire worldwide family of Wallace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flowers of the Forest

 

Norman C. Knight
Woodslee, Ontario, CA
1930-2014

Norm Knight, the loving husband of our own Advisory Director for Canada, Dorothy (Wallace) Knight, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2014 surrounded by his family. Norm and Dorothy were best friends and married for almost 63 years.

Norm was a retiree of Chrysler Corporation with 36 years of service, where he was a spay painter and worked in the “re-work” department refinishing imperfections resulting from the manufacturing process.
He was a member of Woodslee IOOF Lodge and past director of the Woodslee Credit Union and Federation of Agriculture. He had many interests but wood working was his passion. He and Dorothy enjoyed their many travels to Scotland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and especially Italy where he visited his brother’s grave in Ortona.

Norm was a very active Annual member of the Clan Wallace Society World Wide wherein he assisted Dorothy in her many activities associated with the CWS. Norm was a very nice guy, as many of us in the CWS knew from our contacts with him over the years and at the Calgary Gathering in 2012.

The Board and Council of the Clan Wallace Society Worldwide express their heartfelt sorrow to Norm’s family at his passing. He will be greatly missed by his beloved wife Dorothy, sons Craig and Jon, and daughter Norma Jean, and six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and the many nieces and nephews.

flowers of the forest

William Wayne Wallace
Canyon Lake, TX
1939-2011

William Wayne Wallace departed this earth on July 29, 2011 in the presence of his loving wife.  He was born February 15, 1939 in Belton, Texas. His birth was on the White Family Farm in Bell County.

Wayne attended Texas A&M University and graduated with honors in 1963 with a degree in Engineering.  He later received his Professional Engineer License and worked for 13 years with Aramco in Saudi Arabia, before he retired.  He was actively involved with the Southwest Texas Archeological Society.  He was a Council Member of the Clan Wallace Society Worldwide and a Convener in Texas for many years.  He was the brother to Past President Marcus “Jim” Wallace, and uncle to current Secretary and Board Member, Donna Kay Wallace.

Wayne was a quiet man with that slow Texas drawl, and unique in his love of family and friends.  He was a Patriot, Conservationist, Adventurer, and a proud man of our Heritage. He had a keen interest in nature and her history.  He is survived by four children, 12 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.  He is much loved by his family and will be dearly missed.

flowers of the forest

Richard W. Wallis Sr.
Liverpool, PA
1937-2011

Richard W. Wallis Sr. passed away at home with his family by his side-July 14, 2011.  He was 74.  He was a member of Clan Wallace Society since the late 90’s.  He worked for Greyhound Bus Lines as a freight/baggage handler.  Richard was also a poultry farmer for about 30 years, some of it at the same time as his greyhound job.

He was a 50-year member of the Free & Accepted Masons-Lodge 371.  Richard or “Turtle” to his friends was an active member of his church, in the choir and co-chair of their Apple Butter Boil committee.  He was well-known and loved in the Liverpool, PA community and would always be there to help a friend in need.

He loved golf, watching sports and spending time with his family.  He is survived by his wife of 49 years Sandra, and his 3 adult children-Bob, Tim, and Richard Jr., who convenes the PA area Games.

flowers of the forest

Laurie Isdell
San Jose, CA
????-2011

We were saddened to learn of the passing of Clan Wallace Society Lifetime member Laurie Isdell on April 29, 2011.  She had been battling breast cancer for the past five years. Laurie is survived by her husband Dan. Dan & Laurie were very active convening Clan Wallace Society tents at games & festivals in central California.  A celebration of Laurie’s life was held at the Sacramento Valley Scottish Games & Festival in Woodland, CA on Saturday, May 7, 2011.

flowers of the forest