Skip to main content
The Actuary: The magazine of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries - return to the homepage Logo of The Actuary website
  • Search
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Logo of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Main navigation

  • News
  • Features
    • General Features
    • Interviews
    • Students
    • Opinion
  • Topics
  • Knowledge
    • Business Skills
    • Careers
    • Events
    • Predictions by The Actuary
    • Whitepapers
  • Jobs
  • IFoA
    • CEO Comment
    • IFoA News
    • People & Social News
    • President Comment
  • Archive

Topics

  • Data Science
  • Investment
  • Risk & ERM
  • Pensions
  • Environment
  • Soft skills
  • General Insurance
  • Regulation Standards
  • Health care
  • Technology
  • Reinsurance
  • Global
  • Life insurance
Quick links:
  • Home
  • The Actuary Issues
  • May 2015
05

Obituary: John Galloway Wallace OBE

Open-access content 5th May 2015
2

3 July 1914-18 February 2015

John was born just before World War I in Kelso, Scotland. He was from strong stock; both sets of grandparents celebrated their golden weddings when average life expectancy itself was about 50 years, and he went on to live double that time.

He was a remarkable man with the sort of brain that made instant connections between people, places and events, no matter how long ago. Whenever John made friends he always kept in touch with them. 

After graduating from Edinburgh University, he joined Scottish Life and qualified as a Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries in 1940 just before the examinations ceased until after World War II. 

He served in the Army until 1946, mainly in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Wherever he went he would try to locate an actuary. This was successful particularly in Belgium and Holland, where he found many actuarial textbooks had been destroyed and promptly arranged for the Faculty to provide some. 

On returning to Scottish Life he was promoted to general manager in 1956. He led the expanding business with great drive and vision for 20 years. He was elected president of the Faculty of Actuaries in 1973 and was also president of the Chartered Insurance Institute, chairman of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, and chairman of the Scottish Office Health Board committee tasked with preparing the 'Priorities for the Eighties' report. He was awarded an OBE in 1980. 

His love of climbing drove him to complete all the Munros, Corbetts and Donalds, finishing well into his eighties. He enjoyed a wonderful family life with his four daughters, 10 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. His family is immensely proud of his long life, contributing so much to their lives, the actuarial world and society in general.

This article appeared in our May 2015 issue of The Actuary.
Click here to view this issue
Filed in:
05
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Capital Project Actuary

£500 - £850 per day
Reference
118964

Systems Actuary

London (Central)
£90,000 to £115,000 plus bonus and package
Reference
118963

Qualified Reporting Manager

London (Central)
£Upon Application
Reference
118948
See all jobs »
 
 
 
 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to The Actuary

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
Spread-iPad-slantB-june.png
​
FOLLOW US
The Actuary on LinkedIn
@TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Facebook: The Actuary Magazine
CONTACT US
The Actuary
Tel: (+44) 020 7880 6200
​

IFoA

About IFoA
Become an actuary
IFoA Events
About membership

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to The Actuary Magazine
Contribute

The Actuary Jobs

Actuarial job search
Pensions jobs
General insurance jobs
Solvency II jobs

© 2020 The Actuary. The Actuary is published on behalf of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries by Redactive Publishing Limited, Level 5, 78 Chamber Street, London, E1 8BL. Tel: 020 7880 6200