‘Duke of Princes Street’ leaves £26m in will

A lawyer dubbed the “Duke of Princes Street” who lived on the Edinburgh thoroughfare for nearly 60 years has left £26 million in his will.

Ivor Guild, who had a long career as a solicitor at Shepherd and Wedderburn, lived in theNew Club for 57 years after management offered him a room.

He could often be seen walking along Princes Street with his hat and raincoat on, irrespective of the weather.

Mr Guild, a lifelong bachelor, died in January this year aged 90 after he suffered a stroke in Berlin. He had few possessions and rarely bought new clothes.

His 11 godchildren were left gifts of £3,000 each with the rest being divided between two nephews and a niece overseas.

Mr Guild was born in Dundee to Colonel Arthur Guild, a stockbroker and jute baron.

In response to the question of why he rented a room at the New Club instead of buying a house, he said: “The secretary persuaded me to move in in the dim past and I’ve lazily remained.

“The idea was that there was nothing worse than an empty club and if there are residents there, they give it a permanent life. People come from afar and spend the night at the club.

“A great advantage was that I could walk to work in seven minutes. It’s very pleasant and central and you can get anywhere easily.

“My room windows look west so I have a fine view of Rose Street and I can see the western extremity of the Castle. I also have a good view of the fireworks at the end of the Festival.

“At my age, any change is undesirable.”

Mr Guild was also procurator-fiscal to the Court of the Lord Lyon for 34 years and a director and chairman of several investment trusts.

He also held high offices in the Scottish Episcopal Church and served on theInterception of Communications Tribunal and the Council on Tribunal.

He was appointed CBE in 1985 and in 1990 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.