PROPOSALS to publicly recognise the achievements of a world-famous rock star have been backed by a community group.

A call was made in November for a statue and a plaque to be created in Dunbar in memory of Jimmy Bain, who enjoyed global success with rock band Rainbow having previously studied at Dunbar Grammar School.

READ MORE: Call made for statue of Jimmy Bain

Mark Beattie, who lives in the town and is writing an online biography of the musician – who died in January last year – contacted the community council about his plan for a lasting tribute to the musician.

Bain’s early music career saw him form Nick and the Sinners in 1961 with three fellow pupils in Lloyd Togneri, Jimmy Gaffney and Robin Johnstone, plus ex-pupil Jimmy Marr as vocalist.

Bass player Bain’s family later moved to Canada and he would go on to become involved with a range of bands, including Dio, Thin Lizzy and Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow.

Community councillors discussed the idea shortly before Christmas at a meeting which was also attended by the musician’s niece, Linda Renton, from Eyemouth, and was coincidentally held on what would have been his 69th birthday.

She said: “I think it was just probably after he died we realised what he had done and what he had done for the music industry.

“He produced his own records and contributed to an awful lot of others.”

Stephen Bunyan, the group’s chairman, said the proposals centred on the idea of a statue outside the music room at Bain’s old school and also the suggestion of a plaque at the former Foresters Arms, on Colvin Street, where the musician’s dad was the tenant in the 1960s.

Mr Beattie aims to progress the plaque idea while Herbert Coutts, community councillor, said the suggestion of the statue was being discussed by Mr Beattie and the school.

Mr Coutts said: “The plaque would need planning permission but I am interested because the subject commemorated is appropriate. He is somebody with an international reputation in an area people might not know about.”

Mr Coutts pointed to North Berwick as an example of a town where there were plaques recognising famous people with a connection to the area, with a number of famous golfers recognised there.

Will Collin, fellow community councillor and former headteacher at Dunbar Grammar School, was another who felt the scheme had merit.

He said: “It is an opportunity to recognise not only somebody very well regarded in the heavy rock scene but somebody who has been involved with lots of leading musicians and with groups, not only playing live with them but also as a session musician, and not just guitar but keyboard and various other things. He is somebody who is important to folk who know that kind of music.”

The musician’s death saw tributes being paid from a number of international musicians, including Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine.