Elspeth Gibb, who was one of the first hundred women to graduate in Law from the University of Glasgow, was born into a distinguished Scots family on 9th July 1925. Her father, Andrew Dewar Gibb, was Regius Professor of Law at Glasgow (1934-58) King’s Counsel (1947) and leader of the SNP (1936-40). Elspeth began her higher education In the Arts Faculty in 1942, signalling an intention to proceed to a law degree when she enrolled in the classes of Civil and Constitutional Law in her final year. She graduated MA in 1946, BL in 1947. The curriculum did not seem to cause her much difficulty, though conducting a student life in the Law Faculty while her father was Regius Professor could have carried high expectation. During these years she also lived on campus, in professorial accommodation at No.1, The College. Elspeth would have served an apprenticeship during these years, gaining practical experience. She did not, however, complete her professional qualifications to become a solicitor in Scotland. In 1950, aged 25, she married Harcourt Morton Davidson McWilliam, whose gallant service with the Seaforth Highlanders in Italy during the Second World War was recognised when he was awarded MBE (1945). From General Council Records it appears that the couple spent time in Londonderry, where Harcourt worked as an administrator in the office of Education before settling in Invernesshire.
Sources
University of Glasgow Registry and General Council Records
Scotlands People
