William Macpherson

Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny, 6th of Blairgowrie (1 April 1926 – 14 February 2021) was a judge of the High Court of England and Wales, and the 27th Hereditary Chief of Clan Macpherson. He was a common law barrister who served as the recorder of the Crown Court, a judge at the Queen's Bench, and the presiding judge of the Northern Circuit, before his retirement in 1996. In the late 1990s, Macpherson led the public inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. His report at the end of the enquiry in 1999 was considered groundbreaking and described as one of the most significant moments in the history of British criminal justice.

He had also served as the commanding officer and later as an honorary colonel of the 21st Special Air Service Regiment of the British Territorial Army, and had been the president of the Highland Society of London and the London Scottish Rugby Football Club.

Early life Macpherson was born in Blairgowrie, Perth and Kinross, on 1 April 1926. He was the only son of Brigadier Alan David Macpherson of Cluny Macpherson, DSO, MC, 5th of Blairgowrie, 26th Hereditary Chief of Macpherson, and Catharine Richardson Hill. Macpherson was educated at Summer Fields School, He was a member of the 21st Special Air Service Regiment of the British Territorial Army. During his time there he was deployed in Denmark, France, and Norway. He went on to be the commanding officer of the regiment between 1962 and 1965, and served as an honorary colonel between 1983 and 1991. He was the presiding judge of the Northern Circuit between 1984 and 1988. Some of his recommendations included the establishment and improvement of police accountability mechanisms, including setting up the Independent Police Complaints Commission, and modifications to the law that allowed for retrial provisions when new evidence came to light. The report was considered groundbreaking, setting the agenda for the next two decades of policing. The Guardian newspaper, writing about the publication of the report, called it, "one of the most significant moments in the history of UK criminal justice".

The Macpherson family has owned Newton Castle near Blairgowrie since 1787, and it was Macpherson's home from 1936 till his death. In his later years, he lived there with his companion Lady Hilary Burnham, who joined him after the death of her husband. He enjoyed archery, fishing, and golf. Macpherson died at his home on 14 February 2021, aged 94, of old-age related complications.