TRIBUTES have been paid to a man described as “one of the giants of Haddington historians”.

John (Jack) Tully Jackson sadly passed away last Wednesday aged 93.

Mr Tully Jackson was a key figure in recording the town’s history, as well as being a former community councillor.

In addition, he was also a founding member of the East Lothian badminton league and Haddington Camera Club.

Jan Wilson, chairwoman of Haddington’s community council, had known Mr Tully Jackson for more than 50 years and led the tributes.

She said: “I’m so sad about his passing. I have known him for a long, long time. In fact, I met him where I met my husband, at the badminton many years ago.

“It must have been 1958 that I met Jack for the first time.

“He was a good badminton player and one of Haddington’s best people. It is just so sad.”

Mrs Wilson told the Courier that the news of his death had come as “a shock”.

She added: “We have lost a great community-spirited person and it will not be the same without him.

“He was such a part of the Haddington Festival every year as well and he was one of the first community councillors in Haddington.

“He was just such a great character.”

Fellow community councillor John Hamilton, who runs the Lost Haddington page on Facebook, described Mr Tully Jackson, who was born in Dublin and spent his youth in County Cavan, as “an oracle for Haddington”.

He posted on the social media page about how Mr Tully Jackson came to live in the county after being based at RAF Macmerry.

He added: “He will be sadly missed and I will miss his chats.”

Mr Tully Jackson – who was married to the late Elizabeth, and was a devoted father to Jacqueline, Gavin and Doriel – was also previously postman in the town.

Former convener of Haddington History Society David Haire, who worked alongside Mr Tully Jackson on the East Lothian at War website, was another who highlighted his contribution to the town.

He said: “He was not a historian in the sense of writing things.

“In my time knowing him, I don’t think he ever wrote anything but he was an organiser and a motivator and a guy who came up with ideas.

“He was not afraid about tackling difficult organisational problems and getting people together to produce a video or an interview.

“He produced or directed rather than wrote but his contribution to East Lothian at War specifically was massive and also Haddington’s history and industrial heritage.”

His funeral was on Saturday at St Mary’s Parish Church in Haddington.