George Buchan Shirres entered Trinity Hall in 1877, was 11th Wrangler in 1881 and was elected a Fellow in 1887, and at the time of his death was Tutor, Bursar and Vice-Master of the College. Obituary notice states "His dignity, courtesy and humour made him an excellent Tutor" His chief interest outside Cambridge was in earlier days in church architecture and the flight and the habits of many of our English birds.

Left £6274 in his will which included a bequest to the Aberdeen Art Gallery of a picture entitled "Strath Tay" by George Houston.

Refer to Supporting Information for Will and Obituary Notice.

"George Buchan Shirres, who died at Oban on March 11th, 1919, at the age of 62 was a member of an old Aberdeenshire family. He entered Trinity Hall in 1877, and was 11th Wrangler in 1881. He was elected a Fellow in 1887, and at the time of his death was Tutor, Bursar and Vice-Master of the College. From the time when he became Tutor, now many years ago, he devoted himself unceasingly and with complete unselfishness to the interests of his College. His dignity, courtesy and humour made him an excellent Tutor when he succeeded Sir Alfred Dale in that office, and the same qualities also made him a very successful Proctor, enabling him without difficulty to exercise effective control. His health had been breaking for some years before his death, but he went on working for his College almost to the very last.

His chief interest outside Cambridge was in earlier days in church architecture and probably there were few laymen who knew more about the churches of England than he did. Incidentally and in this connection he gained a quite remarkable knowledge of the inns of the country. People would often test him by asking for the name of the best inn in some remote place. He was seldom at fault and the answer would come - "If Mrs Smith is still there you had better go to the 'White Hart'" Later on he took to golf and was for many years a well-known and welcome figure on many links, for a more even tempered and scrupulously fair opponent in a match than Shirres could not be found. Later still he developed a great interest in birds and their ways, and would sit for hours with a field-glass in bird-haunted places until he had learnt the notes and the flight and the habits of many of our English birds.

It has often been said of him that he looked like a Roman Emperor of the Antonine period, and the remark had more than a superficial truth, for Shirres had much in common with the highest Roman type character. He was stoical in his endurance of discomfort and pain. With very sensitive feelings he had a horror of sentimentality, or indeed any display of emotion. He had a very sound judgement and a real instinct for character, and when his mind was made up he never hesitated to act upon his opinion, whatever inconvenience or pain this action might cost him. Trinity Hall men everywhere will remember his unvarying kindness, his sound advice, and the dry humour which was seldom absent even from his rebukes.

He will be missed by many people of very different kinds, for men who stand out, as he did, as distinctive characters are getting rare. With all his courtesy and the charm of his humour, he was a very reserved man, and the people who knew him intimately were few, but they are feeling the loss of a loyal friend and a very perfect gentleman."

Bequested a picture entitled "Strath Tay" by George Houston to the Aberdeen Art Gallery

Late Vice Master, Trinity Hall, Cambridge, died 11.3.1919 at Oban testate. Confirmation granted at Edinburgh 19.5.1919 to Christian Shirres, his cousin and Patrick Cooper, Advocate there. Executors nominated in will or deed dated 21.7.1917 and recorded with another writ in court books of commissariat of Edinburgh 17.5.1919.

To sister Anna Helen my picture of Tullos Hill. To cousin Christian any dozen volumes from my library. My funeral expenses from Cambridge, or wherever to Nigg Churchyard. An annuity of £30 to my brother Bannatyne Shirres, then on residue annuities of three equal amounts to brothers David Logan and William and my sister Anna Helen.

Codicil: - To Aberdeen Art Gallery my oil painting by George Houston called Strath Tay. Residue annuities amended to on half to sister Anna Helen and quarters to brothers William and David Logan.