TRIBUTE was paid to music mentor Roy McGillivray at a show staged by the Loretto Youth Players last Friday.

Mr McGillivray, who was Musselburgh’s Citizen of the Year in 2012, sadly passed away on December 4.

Lorna Stewart, an organiser of the fundraising show in Our Lady of Loretto Church Hall, paid tribute to Mr McGillivray, who was instrumental in starting the youth players in 1989. He continued to be one of their greatest supporters.

Mr McGillivray was a well-known figure in Musselburgh, running the Mansfield School of Music.

He opened the music school in 1990 after a career in teaching and heading music departments in a variety of Lothian schools. By 1994 he had opened three studios with several tutors offering individual lessons to children from the age of seven and adults. Tuition was offered in piano, singing, guitar, violin, cello, flute, saxophone, clarinet, oboe, trumpet, drums, chanter and bagpipes. Students were successfully prepared for universities and the Royal Scottish Conservatoire.

He held community concerts and festivals in the Brunton Hall and various venues in the area to broaden the musical experience of the pupils at the school. Every year, Mansfield pupils entered the local Rotary Young Musician of the Year Competition.

Mr McGillivray was named Musselburgh Citizen of the Year 2012 by Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council for his services to the community in the field of music.

Irene Tait, community council chairwoman, said: “He was always happy to lend a hand to local community groups when music was required.”

She praised Friday’s performance, saying: “The show that these young people produced was spectacularly amazing from the first note to the last. It was a privilege to be entertained by the talented group. Roy would be so proud.

“We were given a preview of their next show Summer Holiday – it looks fabulous. That will be on at The Brunton from February 16 to 18, with tickets from the box office.”