In a subsequent letter to The Scotsman in April 1982, following the outbreak of the Falklands War, he said it would be a negation of democracy for "the cruel and ruthless fascist dictatorship of a Roman Catholic state", i.e. Argentina, to take over the "mainly Protestant and democratically minded Falklanders, mostly descendants of Scots". In both instances the SNP's National Executive Committee disowned Wolfe's statements, causing Wolfe to withdraw his candidacy from that year's election for the office of party president. Wolfe later apologised for his remarks, saying "I ask for forgiveness of those whom I hurt, if they understand me now. I can see myself then as others saw me ... I don't know why I did it". His second wife, Kate McAteer, was a practising Roman Catholic. Personal life William Wolfe married Arna Dinwiddie in 1953 and they had four children. He died at Udston Hospital, Hamilton in March 2010, aged 86. Alex Salmond and Iain Gray were among the political leaders who offered their condolences. Salmond stated that Wolfe had "transformed it [the SNP] into a modern political party". Positions and commitments Treasurer, Saltire Society, 1953–1960 West Lothian County Commissioner, Scout Association, 1960–1964 Honorary President of Heriot-Watt University Students' Association, 1966–1969 Member, Forestry Commission's National Committee for Scotland, 1974–1987 Treasurer, Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, 1982–1985 Secretary, Scottish Poetry Library, 1985–1991 Director, Eriskay Pony (Purebred) Studbook Society - Comann Each nan Eilean Ltd, 2002–2010 Publications Scotland Lives: the Quest for Independence, 1973 References 1924 births 2010 deaths British Army personnel of World War II British Yeomanry soldiers Scottish anti-nuclear weapons activists Leaders of the Scottish National Party People educated at George Watson's College Presidents of the Scottish National Party Scottish Horse officers Scottish National Party parliamentary candidates