A LASTING tribute to well-known Musselburgh Second World War veteran Dr Tom Renouf is being considered by community councillors.

He died last June, aged 91, just days after receiving an MBE in a bedside ceremony.

Dr Renouf, who fought with the 51st Highlanders, helped organise numerous trips overseas for the Highland Division Veterans Association members to commemorate their bravery.

He also received France’s highest military honour, the Légion d’Honneur, for his part in liberating French communities during the Second World War.

READ MORE: Obituary - Dr Tom Renouf

Members of Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council are now in talks with East Lothian Council amenities staff over plans to commemorate Dr Renouf.

At the group’s meeting last week, chairwoman Irene Tait said one suggestion was to replace the three seats at the town’s war memorial on The Mall with new ones which would feature a plaque dedicated to Dr Renouf.

She later told the Courier: “Tom was a really lovely man and was highly regarded by many people.

“He was very knowledgeable and ready to help out when needed. He always thought of the men who never came back from the war.”

Dr Renouf was educated at Musselburgh Grammar School and was made captain of the school rugby 1st XV. He retained a lifelong connection with the school and helped found the 1930 Club, which continues to meet on an annual basis.

He left school in 1943 and enlisted in the 2nd Battalion London Scottish Regiment. After training, Tom was posted to the Tyneside Scottish Regiment, which was subsequently amalgamated into the 5th Battalion Black Watch Regiment.

He had a lifelong commitment to uniting and supporting its veterans.

In June 1944, on D-Day-plus-4, Dr Renouf landed in France.

He was involved in the breakout from the beachhead at Breville, near Caen, and was wounded at Mauny in the process.

Upon rejoining his regiment, he fought through France, Belgium and the Netherlands, including the liberating of La Roche-en-Ardennes during the bitter winter of 1944-45.

Dr Renouf went on to cross the Rhine in the final stages of the war, where he was awarded his Military Medal and promoted to lieutenant in June 1945.

Following demobilisation in 1946, he undertook a variety of jobs on building sites and with the electricity board before entering the University of Edinburgh, where he studied and gained a PhD in sub-atomic particle theory.

He spent eight years at the Royal Military Academy at Shrivenham before returning to Scotland to take up a research scientist post at the university.

He finished his academic life teaching physics at St Margaret’s School for Girls.

Dr Renouf was well known to county residents for his regular presence at memorial events in East Lothian, particularly in his home town of Musselburgh.

Councillor John Caldwell, Musselburgh East and Carberry, was present when Dr Renouf received his MBE.

He said: “This is an excellent idea.

“The community council is the right group to take this forward.

“This will be welcomed for all Tom did in the town and beyond.”