Kenneth Paterson was the youngest equal in age of the new five-strong education directorate when Borders Regional Council was formed in 1975 from the four old county councils.
He had been the depute director of education of Roxburghshire under Charles Melville, his first administrative post after teaching chemistry in Clydebank and a spell in industry.
Dundee and Glasgow universities and the Nicholson Institute in Storn
oway had provided the education of the lad from a large family in Barvas, Isle of Lewis, who kept his boyish looks throughout life.
Before his retirement in 2001, Kenneth had had experience of handling, in particular, community and further education, and latterly primary and special education, and it was he who appointed many of today’s Borders teaching staff.
He maintained an interest in Rotary and held office at district level, as he also did for a spell as session clerk of Kelso North Church, where his funeral service took place (prior to the interment at Ednam), attended by a huge representation of people with whom he had been associated over the years.
The Rev. Tom McDonald led a reflection on Kenneth’s life and the splendid tribute was given by Ewan Brown, a long-time friend who revealed the family-and-friend side of a father and grandfather. Sylvia was supported by many members of the extended family and her three daughters – Rachel, Amanda and Morag – the last of whom read a poem, To a special man.
Refreshments were served afterwards in Ednam village hall.
A collection was taken at the church for the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund and the Macmillan Nurses at Borders General Hospital.
– Contributed
The full article contains 276 words and appears in Southern Reporter newspaper.
