LONG-STANDING East Lothian resident Roy Fawcett died on Monday, January 2, after a short illness.

Born in Yorkshire, Roy and his wife Pat settled in Haddington in the mid-60s and raised their three children in the town.

Roy was a distinguished agricultural economist who held senior posts in the faculty of agriculture at the University of Edinburgh. A dedicated, devoted lecturer, Roy was highly regarded by his students, many of whom sought him out for advice and counsel long after his retirement.

A major interest of his academic life was underdevelopment, poverty and hunger in the third world. Pursuing this interest, Roy was appointed professor at the University of Gezira, Wad Medani in Sudan. Never one for a soft option, Roy decided to re-locate his entire family and their belongings overland by Land Rover, covering some 6,000 miles across multiple countries in the process!

From the beginning of his time in the county, Roy took a keen interest in public life. A Labour Party member for over 50 years, Roy was chair of the Constituency Party and the Haddington Party Branch. He was elected as a Labour Party councillor on Haddington Town Council and served until re-organisation abolished the burgh councils.

Roy was a Justice of the Peace and served on the bench for many years. He was founding chair of East Lothian Housing Association. A great admirer of John P Mackintosh MP, Roy was a serving and active member of the John P Mackintosh Memorial Lecture Committee.

Roy loved music and played the piano. He encouraged young people to become interested in playing through the music workshop and was a founder member of the Hadley Court Singers.

A quiet man with strong ethical convictions of fairness and justice, Roy was part of the Holy Trinity congregation. A keen follower of cricket in his younger days, he will be fondly remembered as a sturdy and fearless wicket keeper for the Haddington team! He was enormously proud to see his sons and grandsons excel in cricket and rugby.

An expert horticulturist, Roy was blessed with green fingers. With wife Pat, he created many outstanding and beautiful gardens. His expertise in this regard was widely recognised and, in retirement, he was a member of the Haddington Garden Trust.

Roy Fawcett impressed all who knew him. He was one of the kindest and most courteous of men, with a ready smile and a good word for all. He is a great loss to the county and to Haddington.

Sincere condolences go to wife Pat, his children Rebecca, Matthew and Daniel, his grandchildren Sophie, Megan, Callum, Alexander and Jamie, and his extended family.

By Noel Foy