A TREE could be planted in memory of a former community councillor who passed away earlier this year.

Lifelong Nungate resident David Motherwell died on January 31 at the age of 78 after travelling to India to visit his son Troy, daughter-in-law Chubainla and grandson Theo in December.

A minute’s silence was held at Haddington and District Community Council’s meeting in February and former Provost Sheena Richardson attended the group’s meeting last Tuesday evening. She said: “It has been suggested by one or two people that perhaps we should put some sort of marker of his presence and just by chance the River Tyne was where he was particularly interested.

“He was particularly keen on local history and for years did a column in the Courier about tales from the river.

“It has been suggested about having a tree planted somewhere around the River Tyne.”

Mrs Richardson asked the community council if they would support a move to see a tree planted in Mr Motherwell’s memory and to mark his contribution to the town.

Mr Motherwell was a part of the community council for more than a decade and Jan Wilson, chairwoman, paid tribute to his efforts in the group’s handbook in 2008-09, when he stood down from the group.

She described Mr Motherwell, who stepped down at the same time as Norman Lawrie, Irene Pow and Effie Renton, as “an important part of the community council” and each member was “a huge loss to us”.

Mrs Wilson was hesitant to see a tree planted to commemorate one person and instead suggested a tree could be planted to recognise the efforts of all former community councillors.

She added: “Even after he retired he continued to write articles for the handbook and continued to monitor the River Tyne and continued to help out at our art exhibitions.

“He was hands on, even after he left.”

Fellow community councillor Betty Sommerville said: “I went to school with David and I think you have got the right idea.

“He did an awful lot and was always round the town.”

The issue is expected to be discussed further at the community council’s next meeting on May 10.