John Scott
PHILANTHROPIST James McGregor, chairman of the Cape Times Bursary Fund, has died after a long illness at the age of 69.
Cape Town born and bred, he served on at least 20 non-profit organisations, often as chairman, and last year he won the Inyathelo Philanthropy Award for his wide range of charitable activities.
These included chairing the Westlake United Churches Trust aimed at uplifting and empowering the Westlake Village community with educational, health and employment projects; the Leliebloem House care and residential centre in Athlone for 84 children in need of intervention; the Molteno Brothers’ Trust and Foundation which furthers literacy and community upliftment, among other aims; and the LEAP maths and science schools board, which provides secondary school opportunities for disadvantaged youngsters.
McGregor also served as a trustee of the ASSET Educational Trust, whose development programme for pupils from disadvantaged communities produced candidates for the Cape Times Bursary Fund.
He was involved with the Progressive Federal Party and its antecedents for many years, and was chairman of the Wynberg branch of the party.
James Alexander Corbet McGregor was born in Tokai, matriculated at Bishops, graduated at UCT, and worked for the Board of Executors in Cape Town for 24 years.
He became the company’s financial director in 1994 before retiring six years later.
He retained strong links with his old school, and served as chairman of the Diocesan School Council and vice-president of the Old Diocesans’ Union.
McGregor was also a founding trustee of the Bishops Ditikeni Empowerment Trust.
His religious faith led him to do much work for the Anglican Church, which he served in various capacities including membership of the Cape Town diocese’s strategic planning task team in 2000/01.
McGregor’s funeral service will take place in the Bishops Memorial Chapel on Wednesday, July 30, at 3pm.