Tributes paid to ex-Hawick community councillor and acting father Bert Wear after death at age of 76

Bert Wear was a proud Teri steeped in his town’s traditions and in its community life.

It was in 1986 that he was appointed acting father to Hawick cornet David Nuttall, and he was also a community councillor and a past president of both the Mosstroopers’ Club and the town’s ex-cornets and ex-acting fathers’ association.

A loyal supporter of the town’s annual common riding, latterly as a member of its committee, Bert was always the first to put his hand up to help out if community work needed to be done.

He was also a keen bowler and was for many years a member of Buccleuch Bowling Club.

Bert – husband to Jessie, father to Lesley, Carol and Alan and grandfather to seven – died on Monday at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

There was shock at his sudden death, especially as he had been still working at his joinery business until quite recently.

Accolades have been paid for his selfless service to the town in many capacities.

Leading those tributes was John Hogg, chairman of Hawick Common Riding’s organising committee,

He said: “I knew Bert very well for a very long time.

“He loved the town and was very protective of his family, who he loved a great deal.

“Bert was a very well-respected businessman. He had his own joinery business in the town, for some time in partnership with his brother Mo, and he was still working up until a few weeks ago, as far as I am aware, plodding along at his own pace.

“I always found Bert a very genuine, honest guy.

“He was the kind of guy who didn’t say an awful lot, but when he spoke, you listened because he was a very knowledgeable and respected man.

“His family – his children and his grandchildren – were the biggest part of his life, but he was also deeply involved with things to do with the town.

“He was very much a Hawick man through and through.

“The last time I saw Bert was maybe a couple of weeks ago when he was out for a walk one morning and I had a quick word with him and he seemed to be in good fettle then.

“I think the whole town is in shock a wee bit because he was so well known and well respected.

“When you hear that someone has been taken ill but that it wasn’t too serious and then he passes away, it is a great shock. It’s a shock to the whole town.

“For us as a common riding committee he will be a big, big miss. He was the first to put his hand up if there was any work to be done, and he did a heck a lot of work with the Christmas lights, helping with the lights and tree in the High Street.

“Bert’s a big loss to all things pertaining to Hawick.”

Town provost Watson McAteer agreed, saying: “During these difficult times, I and many townsfolk will be saddened to hear of the unexpected death of ex-acting father Bert Wear.

“Bert and the entire Wear family are very well known and respected, and his loss will be keenly felt by all who had the privilege to know him.

“A man with a great love for the common riding, his belief in fair play and doing the right thing marked him as a special son of Hawick.”

Hawick and Denholm councillor Stuart Marshall added: “Our town was stunned this week to hear this news.

“Bert was so well liked and respected, not only in common riding circles but throughout the town and, indeed, the Borders.

“Always a man whom I admired very much, he was very passionate about everything Hawick and an individual who was never afraid to speak his mind .

“Our town won’t quite be the same without him.”