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Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Beith MPLiberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Berwick Upon TweedWorking for you and the Berwick upon Tweed Constituency all year roundin Northumberland and in Westminster |
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Late Ian McGregor "one in a million" says Beith
April 15, 2008 11:00 AM
Ian McGregor was a champion for his local community.
Well known and much loved Liberal Democrat Ian McGregor of Berwick upon Tweed has died. Ian was born and brought up at Ford, a few miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in a large and loving family. He and his wife Helen were married at Ford but work took him to Holy Island where he worked for a number of years for Michael Hackett before becoming Postmaster on the Island.
His job meant that he knew about people and their cares and concerns, but Ian's interest in people and their communities came from the heart. He was passionate about people, passionate about the environment and passionate about local communities; he always thought deeply about things and from this came both his political and his Christian commitment.
He was heavily involved in the political rollercoaster of 1973-74 which saw the election and the re-election of Alan Beith and he decided that he would like to be a Liberal councillor. He wasn't elected at his first go, but in 1979 he joined Berwick Borough Council and served continuously until 2003. Ian was always ahead of his time. His last great battle was in favour of wind farms. When he was told that the plans had been turned down he said, "Oh, I knew that would happen - but they will come." The wonderful thing about Ian was that he could see things in the long term, but he could also see other people's point of view.
Ian was a loving husband and father. He could not have done what he did without Helen's support and he took justified pride in the achievements of both their daughters: Selina, herself a borough councillor for some years, and Sarah. He always knew he was on borrowed time, but he lived long enough to enjoy the company of his grandson Baxter.
It is often said, "If you want something done ask a busy man." Ian was certainly a busy man, who despite all his physical problems got things done. He made a difference to the lives of many people in our area.
Alan Beith MP said, "Despite battling with ill-health throughout his life, Ian devoted himself to helping other people, serving the community and putting into practice his Christian belief and his Liberal principles. He was one of the finest men I have ever had the privilege of working with, and many of the things I have been able to do depended on his understanding of the needs of local people and his infectious enthusiasm. His interests were enormously wide-ranging and at the same time he was a devoted family man. He was one in a million."
Ian McGregor was an inspiration and an example. He will be very much missed by all who knew him, in the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency and beyond.
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