Andy’s body is coming home

Andy Forsythe was shot dead in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia on Saturday, August 15, a tragedy now being investigated by authorities there.

The 54-year-old artist had spent his early years in Ancrum and later lived in Hawick, in-between times working and travelling in Canada.

In recent years he has spent time in eastern Europe, in Turkey and latterly in Bulgaria.

After his death his family and friends launched a Crowdfunding appeal to raise the £8,000 needed to repatriate his body and fulfil his wish to be buried in his home village of Ancrum.

Although the target figure has now been reached his family, including his two daughters Hayley and Jessie, have left the fundraising page open to cover expected additional funeral costs.

Mr Forsythe’s body was discovered inside a house in the city’s affluent Dragalevtsi district.

He is believed to have been attacked by the former husband of the woman he was living with in the Bulgarian capital.

That suspect is understood to have since fled the country.

Sanne Gault, who has been coordinating the Crowdfunding appeal, said: “A big thank-you to everyone for your help. Together you have made it possible to bring Andy home to his beloved Scotland to be laid to rest in Ancrum.

“We still welcome contributions to this appeal as there will be further expenses arising from Andy’s tragic death.

“Andy was a man with a big and generous heart. He gave freely of his time to help others; he brought joy to many through his writing and his art.

“A man of honest principles; a man possessed of great wit and a keen mind. A good man. Andy had a thirst for knowledge of the world and of himself. His curiosity took him from Scotland to Turkey and then Bulgaria. Andy’s wish was that when the time came he would be laid to rest in Ancrum, the village in the Borders where he grew up.”