Tributes have been paid to former Stirling Provost John Paterson who has died aged 77.
John Moore Paterson was born in Raploch and lived there all his life.
He first attended Allan’s Primary School before going on to the then Riverside School for further primary and secondary education.
On leaving school John became a welder at a Dunblane metalwork firm where he worked alongside his brother William.
He first became a Stirling District councillor for the Gowanhill ward between 1980 and 1988, later becoming councillor for Cornton and Causewayhead between 1990 and 1995 following a by-election.
He was nominated as Provost for the shadow council in the run up to the reorganisation of local authorities of 1996 and became Provost in April that year.
Stirling Council depute leader, Councillor Margaret Brisley, said this week:
“John was an effective and much-admired local councillor and a great ambassador for both Stirling Council and for his community and constituents.
“I had the pleasure of serving with John for 25 years on Stirling Council and remember him as a kind, hard-working and compassionate man with a great sense of humour.
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“John will be missed by all who knew him and remembered fondly as a Son of the Rock and Labour Party member.”
During the role of Provost, John became Chancellor of University of Stirling Court and received an honorary MA from the university in June 2000, for his work in the community and his contribution to the university.
John also spent hours in Stirling Library carrying out research for the publication of Stirling Talking Stones which looked at the lives of those behind the gravestones in the Church of the Holy Rude cemetery. The book was launched in May 2003 at the Tolbooth.
And in 2009 he received a medal from the Order of St John at a ceremony.
John was also a Justice of the Peace in the mid 1980s serving on Stirling District Court.
During his council career John headed the licensing committee - and held directorships of four companies within Stirling.
Other posts included Stirling Tourist Board and Forth Housing Association, which he served on between 2015 and 2021.
John was also closely involved in the building of the clubhouse at Stirling Bowling Club beside the Church of the Holy Rude as well as John Cowane’s Trust.
John passed away at Forth Valley Royal Hospital following a long illness on July 8.
He leaves wife Isabel, children Elaine, Brian and Maria, their spouses Tony, Chandini and Michael and grandchildren Lochlan, Liam, Abigail and Ria.
The funeral service will take place at St Margaret’s RC Church on Monday July 25 at 11.30am and thereafter to Bannockburn Cemetery.
