John Greig Dunbar

Sir John Greig Dunbar CBE DL JP (1907–?) was a 20th century Scottish businessman and Tory politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1960 to 1963.

John Greig Dunbar
Born
Edinburgh
Occupationbusinessman
politician
ChildrenGreig Dunbar

Life

He was born at Elgin House[1] near the top of Easter Road in north-east Edinburgh, the son of James Dunbar. The lemonade company his father owned had relocated from Maryfield/East Norton Place to Albion Road around 1900. The firm made fruit squashes (including a drink from the kola nut), ginger beer and sodas.[2]

John was joint Director and owner (with his brother Dr Alexander Dunbar) of James Dunbar Ltd., manufactureres of aerated waters (lemonades) based off Albion Road. His cousins owned the parallel company of Dunbar and Co. on the Pleasance.[3] The factory gave its name to the "Dunbar End" at Easter Road Stadium.

He became councillor for the Calton ward in the 1950s.

He was elected Lord Provost of Edinburgh in 1960 in succession to Ian Anderson Johnson-Gilbert.[4]

He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1962 New Year Honours List.[5] He was host to both the Queen and King Olav V of Norway during his time as Lord Provost. His time as Lord Provost was dominated by major planning decisions (typical of all cities at that time), including the decision to clear St James Square to create the St. James Centre and promotion of the Princes Street Plan which resulted in the loss of many important historic buildings.[6]

He was succeeded as Lord Provost by Duncan Weatherstone in 1963.

Family

His son was named Greig Dunbar.[7]

Artistic Recognition

He was portrayed in his ceremonial robes by David Donaldson in 1963. The portrait is held by Edinburgh City Art Centre but is rarely displayed.[8]

John Greig Dunbar meeting the Queen https://www.britishpathe.com/video/queen-in-scotland-1/query/Greig

References


  1. Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1907
  2. "Products". James Dunbar. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  3. "Edinburgh History - Recollections of Lochend". www.edinphoto.org.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  4. Lord Provosts of Edinburgh: Edinburgh City Chambers
  5. New Years Honours list 1962
  6. Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker
  7. "Favourite quirks of Scottish stadiums". The Pie Shop. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  8. "Sir John Greig Dunbar (b.1907), Lord Provost of Edinburgh (1960–1963) | Art UK". artuk.org. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
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