A CALL has been made for a statue to be built in the former school of a famous late musician.

Jimmy Bain (pictured, by Dana Wullenwaber and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license) enjoyed global success with rock band Rainbow after moving to Canada, having previously studied at Dunbar Grammar School.

Mark Beattie, who lives in Dunbar, got in touch with the town’s community council urging them to do something to recognise Bain’s contribution to music.

The letter states: “I am currently, with some professional help, writing the online biography of a well-respected Dunbar musician who was lead then bassist with some of the biggest heavy rock groups around prior to his death this January, aged 68.

“This lad, Jimmy Bain, plangent guitarist extraordinaire, moved to Dunbar at the end of the 50s and spent six years at our secondary school just to get four ordinary levels.”

Mr Beattie described music as “the food of love” to Bain, who was born in the Scottish Highlands. The letter also looks at how Bain, who was also involved with Dio and Thin Lizzy among other bands, first became involved with music.

It reads: “His first group (formed in 1961) Nick and the Sinners included four of the school’s 1st XV – Jimmy, Lloyd Togneri, Jimmy Gaffney and Robin Johnstone, plus an ex-pupil Jimmy Marr as vocalist.

“Post-school, Jimmy formed The Embers and then Scotland’s first supergroup Three’s a Crowd.

“After emigrating to Canada at the end of the decade he returned to London and eventually enlisted in one of the best heavy rock groups of the 70s, Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, and the rest is real music history.”

Mr Beattie suggested a caricature-styled statue of Bain outside the music room at the town’s secondary school, as well as a plaque outside what was the Foresters Arms, on Colvin Street, where dad Alec was tenant during the 1960s.

Herbert Coutts, community councillor, said there was something to be said for the idea of a plaque being created. He said: “He is a son of Dunbar and I do think it would merit consideration.”

An application could be made to the group’s local priorities fund, which could see money put towards the cost of a plaque or statue.

Mr Coutts noted there was a plaque for John Muir in the town and it might be worth considering the possibility of introducing more plaques to mark the achievements of others from the town.

The issue is expected to be discussed further at the group’s meeting on December 19.