Published: Thursday, 18th October, 2007 09:00
Sons' tribute to musician dad who's died, aged 40
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MUCH-loved guitarist Greig Hannan, who died last month aged just 40, is to be honoured by band-mates at a memorial concert – with two of his children taking centre stage.
Well-known Dunbar postman Greig, of the town’s Ash Grove, was diagnosed with cancer in autumn 2006. He died on September 24 in a Marie Curie Hospice with friends and family at his bedside.
He is survived by childhood sweetheart Julie, sons Jamie, 20, and Ben, 14, and daughter Emma, 7.
Brother-in-law and close friend, Graeme Smith, who also played with Greig in well-known band ‘Setting Sons’, said that despite his diminutive size, Greig was a larger than life character.
“There was not one person in Dunbar that had a bad word to say about Greig,” he said. “He was a loveable guy who would do anything for anyone. He was always so positive with his illness and never thought it would get the better of him. He is the bravest guy I know.”
Greig was a well-known face around his home town of Dunbar – treading the streets on his rounds as a postman for the last four years.
A talented musician who “learned to play the guitar before he could walk”, he set up the band Setting Sons with Keith McCraw in 2003, initially playing local venues before finding acclaim as the Scottish support act of choice for influential punk band, Stiff Little Fingers.
Lead singer, Jake Burns, paid tribute to Greig at a gig in Edinburgh’s Liquid Rooms last month.
Following Greig’s funeral service on October 1 at Mortonhall Crematorium, brother-in-law Graeme abandoned plans for upcoming gigs – until Greig’s sons suggested they stand in for their late father in a charity concert.
“It was Greig who had arranged this gig at the Rossborough Hotel (in Dunbar) initially, but when he died, I thought I would just leave it, but his sons wanted to do a couple of songs in his memory,” said Graeme, “Greig’s life was music and the band so it is fitting that the band and his sons are teaming up to honour his memory in this way.”
The Greig Hannan Memorial Concert is in the Rossborough Hotel on Saturday, November 3 featuring Setting Sons, UTB, a disco, auction and raffle. All proceeds will be donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care. Tickets from Lothian Computers on Dunbar High Street.
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Honoured by Her Majesty