Committed Europhile Lady Anne Mackenzie-Stuart has died at the age of 78.
Lady Mackenzie-Stuart was a passionate advocate of a united Europe for more than six decades.
Her father was an Edinburgh solicitor and she was born and grew up in the Capital. After her schooling in the city, she attended the University of Edinb
urgh from where she graduated MA, LLB in 1951.
It was at university that she met her future husband, Jack Mackenzie-Stuart, who was appointed as British judge at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg in 1972 and who ultimately became President of that Court.
Her father had taken her to London in 1947 where they had seen the appalling destruction caused by Nazi bombing. Her determination to contribute what she could to a Europe that would enjoy lasting peace grew out of that experience.
In the 1960s she obtained an LLM at the Centre of European Governmental Studies at Edinburgh University, studying with Professor JDB Mitchell. It was here that she developed a particular interest in European Law as a force for good.
Lord Mackenzie-Stuart acknowledged Anne's passionate commitment to Europe and to European law in particular, when he wrote: "My heartfelt tribute goes to my wife whose involvement in, and knowledge of, European Community law long antedated mine.
"To her go my warmest thanks for keeping my interest in the law of the European Communities alive when it seemed of remote concern to the practising lawyer in the United Kingdom."
During her time in Luxembourg, Anne brought a welcome breath of kindness and informality to what could often be a rigid and formalistic legal world.
Mackenzie-Stuart parties in Luxembourg, as in Edinburgh, became legendary.
She also shone in her own right as chairperson of the Parent-Teacher Association of the European School in Luxembourg.
Returning to Scotland in 1988, she maintained her great interest in "things European" and soon became the vice-chairman of the European Movement in Scotland, campaigning vigorously to convince Scots of the advantages of their membership of the European Union.
Roderick Skinner, chairman of the European Movement in Scotland said: "She was just the finest person who was a great friend, a trusty colleague and a very committed European, and a proud Scot.
"She was known in lots of different circles given all the various interests she had. She will be very much missed by everybody whose lives she touched."
Lady Mackenzie-Stuart was engaged in many things – the arts, travel, Scottish country dancing, ornithology, gastronomy, the environment and the Tour de France.
Above all though, she was passionate about people, old and young.
She bore her serious illness with typical courage. She passed away on October 14.
Her family was at the centre of her life.
She is survived by her brother, Fergus, her daughters – Amanda, Katie, Laura and Judy – and her grandchildren, Daisy, Marianna, Marina and Jamie.
The full article contains 495 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
