An Edinburgh Family
Meyer Oppenheim, known as Mike, was born in Edinburgh in 1906. In 1930 he married Violet Levitt; they settled in Edinburgh where they raised their three children, Lizanne, Philip and Nick.
Mike enjoyed a successful business career and was chairman of privately held James Grant & Co as well as Argyle Securities, which was listed on the stock exchange.
During the war Mike served in the Royal Air Force. Appointed to the rank of Flight Lieutenant, his service included two years in India.
Outside of his work, Mike, together with Vi, were passionate supporters of the arts and travelled widely.
Mike passed away in 1982 and Vi a decade later in 1992. They are survived by their three children, 9 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and (to date) two great great grandchildren. Mike and Vi's descendants live in the UK, USA and Israel.
Royal Lyceum Theatre
A Royal Gala Performance
Mike acquired the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh in 1960. During his period as proprietor he staged a gala performance of Sir Walter Scott's Rob Roy in the presence of HM Queen Elizabeth, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HM King Harald of Norway.
Mike gifted the Royal Lyceum to the City of Edinburgh in 1964. It remains one of the principle arts venues in Edinburgh, home of the world's greatest art festivals.
Water of Leith Walkway
A Silver Thread in a River of Green
In parallel to establishing the Meyer Oppenheim Trust, Mike also created and endowed the Water of Leith Walkway Trust to restore to health the river that flows through Edinburgh.
Mike's vision was to create a 15 mile pathway from Balerno to Leith for the benefit of the city's residents. Since the Victorian era, the river had suffered from decades of industrial abuse and had become heavily silted and polluted.
After years of work, the Walkway opened to the public in 1981. Today the Water of Leith is an oasis of calm, providing an escape for the people of Edinburgh. It is also a vital haven for wildlife in a crowded city.
Today the Walkway is managed by the Water of Leith Conservation Trust.
Royal Scottish Academy
The RSA Meyer Oppenheim Prize
In a city famed for its arts and culture, Mike and Vi were committed painters and sculptors. They both exhibited publicly.
Mike and Vi endowed the Royal Scottish Academy with an annual prize, the RSA Meyer Oppenheim Prize. The Prize is awarded for a work in any medium by an artist under the age of 35 and continues to be awarded to this day.
