George Pottinger

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(William) George Pottinger (11 June 1916 – 15 January 1998)

civil servant who was imprisoned for corruption in 1974 following the John Poulson
trial.

Education and early career

George Pottinger was born in 1916, the elder son of the Reverend William Pottinger, MA, of Orkney.

Secretaries of State for Scotland – Arthur Woodburn, Hector McNeil and James Stuart
– from 1949 to 1952, and as Secretary of the Royal Commission on Scottish Affairs (1952–4).

The Aviemore project

During the late 1950s,

John Maclay, then Secretary of State for Scotland, appointed Lord Fraser of Allander (then Sir Hugh Fraser) to head a survey of tourist resources in the Highlands. Pottinger was put on secondment to Fraser, and in 1962 was asked by ministers to assist the Scottish Tourist Board in preparing a Bill that would allow for a series of investment grants and, potentially, a special tax on overnight accommodation in the area. In a letter to Maclay, he noted that one additional problem inherent in developing the Highlands as a tourist destination was the "shortage of top-class hotel accommodation", and that an "ambitious project which will really strike people's imagination" was now needed.[3]: 34–35  This advice was taken on board: following further rounds of negotiation with various agencies and groups, a £5m redevelopment of Aviemore
as a winter sports complex was eventually conceived and approved.

Prompted by the chairman of the construction firm

Bovis, Fraser came to understand that the only architect with the "vision" and technical ability to develop the scheme was John Poulson. In order to speed up the process and maintain Poulson's interest, Pottinger was delegated to "work closely" with him.[3]: 41, 49  It was at this time that Poulson started giving Pottinger the 'gifts' that would ensure the downfall of both men. According to historian Ian Levitt, these totalled £30,000 over six years from 1963 onwards, and included "two suits of clothing, foreign holidays, a car and a bungalow built to [Pottinger's] specification beside Muirfield Golf Course".[3]: 26  Poulson gave Pottinger £20,000 towards the mortgage of his new home, and even paid £655 for the installation of central heating.[4][5][6]

Trial and conviction for fraud

Nicknamed 'Gorgeous George' on account of his predilection for "expensive tailoring",

Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) were both revoked in 1975.[9]

Later years and publications

Following his release Pottinger moved to Balsham in Cambridgeshire, where he died aged 81 in 1998 after collapsing while playing tennis.[4][13] His published works include The Winning Counter (1971), Muirfield and the Honourable Company (1972), St. Moritz: an Alpine Caprice (1972), The Court of the Medici (1977), and The Secretaries of State for Scotland, 1926-76 (1979), which he drafted while in prison.

Family

In 1946 Pottinger married Margaret (Meg) McGregor; their son Piers was head of the City public relations firm Lowe Bell Financial,[14] later part of Bell Pottinger. His younger brother, Don, was an artist and illustrator.

References

  1. ^ a b 'Pottinger, player in Poulson scandal, dies at 81', The Herald, 19 January 1998. Accessed 15 March 2014.
  2. Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 2018 (online ed.). A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  3. ^
    doi:10.3366/scot.2005.0019
  4. ^ a b c Poulson affair: Pelicans brief that stunned a country, The Scotsman, 24 February 2009; accessed 15 March 2014.
  5. ^ 'Poulson letter 'confession of corruption'.' The Times, 4 July 1974.
  6. ^ 'Court of Appeal 10 July 1974 William George Pottinger', unredacted account, Cathy Fox's blog, 3 May 2015 (accessed 6 January 2018).
  7. ^ Dennis Johnson, 'Pottinger: Olympian cultivation and sybaritic inclinations', The Guardian, 12 February 1974.
  8. ^ Michael Gillard, Kenneth Everidge obituary, The Guardian, 2 June 2011; accessed 15 March 2014.
  9. ^ a b 'Obituary: George Pottinger', The Times, 19 January 1998.
  10. ^ 'Seven-year concurrent sentence on Mr Poulson.' The Times, 16 March 1974.
  11. ^ 'Pottinger jail term cut by a year', The Times, 11 July 1974.
  12. ^ 1974: Architect jailed over corruption On this day 1950–2005, BBC; accessed 15 March 2014.
  13. ^ Brian Wilson, 'Poulson crony ruined by greed', The Guardian, 20 January 1998.
  14. ^ "Bunhill: Family fortunes". Independent. 4 October 1992. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
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