Mr "D-L" Shirres was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and was taken into his father's warehouse as a clerk where his special bent could find greater scope. After receiving a thorough business training under his father, Mr Shirres went to Glasgow, where for some years he acted as an accountant to a large firm. He then returned from Glasgow to Aberdeen and started business on his own account as a boot manufacturer and warehouseman in the premises in George Street. He held strongly Conservative views in politics, but never took any part in public life, either political or municipal.

In his spare time read deeply in theology, and wrote several works on that subject. His "Treatise on Jeremaih", "Exposition of the Psalms" and "The Four Gospels in One" were probably his most successful theological works. Lived for most of his life at Tullos House, 1 mile south of Aberdeen which was demolished for the construction of an industrial estate.

"Mr Shirres was born in Arbroath. In his infancy Mr Shirres was brought to Aberdeen, his father becoming joint owner of a local quarry, and afterwards starting business as a warehouseman in the block of buildings known as Shirres buildings. Mr Shirres was educated at the Grammar School, and it was intended that he should enter the ministry of the Episcopal Church, of which both his father and mother were devoted adherents, the later belonging to an old Episcopalian family of which several members had occupied prominent ecclesiastical positions. He showed such an aptitude for figures, however, that the idea of his joining the clergy was abandoned, and he was taken into his father's warehouse as a clerk where his special bent could find greater scope. After receiving a thorough business training under his father, Mr Shirres went to Glasgow, where for some years he acted as an accountant to a large firm. It was remarked at the time that seldom or never had the post of accountant in the firm in question been occupied by a more capable man than Mr Shirres. More than 50 years ago Mr Shirres returned from Glasgow to Aberdeen and started business on his own account as a boot manufacturer and warehouseman in the premises in George Street at present occupied by the firm. Mr Shirres's commercial abilities soon gave his business a leading position among similar houses in the north of Scotland. He retired from active business life some time ago. Mr Shirres held strongly Conservative views in politics, but being of a retiring disposition he never took any part in public life, either political or municipal. Throughout his life he had a keen liking for theological study. At Glasgow he formed an intimate acquaintance with Edward Irving, who exercised a strong influence over his views on religious subjects. Though he began life under the shadow of the Episcopal Church, Mr Shirres never identified himself with that or any other particular denomination, his leanings, if he had any, being towards the Catholic Apostolic Church. Mr Shirres in his spare time read deeply in theology, and wrote several works on that subject. His "Treatise on Jeremaih", "Exposition of the Psalms" and "The Four Gospels in One" were probably his most successful theological works. Mr Shirres had a distinct musical talent, and when he was a boy his tenor voice was often heard at concerts held at such places as the New Inn, then one of the centres of Aberdeen life. As may be supposed, Mr Shirres had many interesting things to tell of Aberdeen in older days. He could remember distinctly the illuminations which took place in the city on the occasion of Waterloo, and he used to describe the "hushed" feeling that pervaded the city for a few days during which the inhabitants anxiously awaited the result of the battle, which had been for some time imminent. Mr Shirres was twice married and is survived by five sons and a daughter. One of the sons is Major J.C.Shirres, of the Royal Artillery, who was recently invested with a Distinguished Service Order in recognition of his services in the Chitral Relief Force. Another is Mr G.B. Shirres, fellow of and mathematical lecturer in Trinity College, Cambridge, who inherited his father's genius for figures; while a third is Mr William Shirres, advocate, Edinburgh. The business of the deceased is carried on by one of his sons, Mr B. Shirres. The daughter, Miss Shirres, resided at Tullos House with her father. The late Baillie Shirres was a brother of deceased. - Daily Free Press"

Percy Smyth Shirres