Fan of travel who stayed loyal to his home town

Published on Monday 21 January 2008 08:13

Jimmy Wilson of South Queensferry dies aged 80

Jimmy Wilson was born in 1927 in Dalmeny, near South Queensferry. One of eight children, he attended Dalmeny Primary School. At 13, he left school to take up an apprenticeship as a blacksmith for Lord Rosebery, whose family have owned the Dalmeny Estate for more than 300 years.

Then he followed in his dad's footsteps and began working on the railways – an industry he worked in for 35 years until his retirement– and worked his way up to bridge inspector, covering the Lothians and Fife.

When he was 21 he met 16-year-old Janet at a dance hall in Dalmeny. The pair married in 1954 at the Manse House in South Queensferry and had three children, Gillian, now 52, Pauline, 50 and Janice, 42.

The family enjoyed happy times in South Queensferry, a place where Jimmy lived his whole life. A perk of his job meant travel passes and the family went on holiday all over the country. Destinations ranged from as nearby as Burntisland to as far away as Wales, and even Spain one year, all reached by train.

Sadly, Janet died in 1996, just two years after their ruby wedding anniversary.

Jimmy was kept busy by his many interests. He was Scout leader at the 21st South Queensferry pack for many years – where he was known as Skipper – and helped out at the Dalmeny Brownies.

Into his retirement, he was an active member of Queensferry Bowling Green, becoming president, and a member of the Probus Club in South Queensferry.

For the last three years, Jimmy had found it difficult to get out and about. He moved to a sheltered housing complex, where his daughters and friends visited him regularly.

Eldest daughter Gillian said: "My dad was a quiet, unassuming man and quite a homebird. But he was very kind and I never heard him say a bad work about anyone. He had a real affinity with kids and devoted much of his life to the Scouts and helping out in the local community. He was always there for us, with money or help and you could always go to him if you wanted. He wasn't a forward person but he was always there."

On Sunday, January 6, Jimmy died peacefully at the age of 80.

His funeral was held in the Lorimer Chapel at Warriston Crematorium. He is survived by his three daughters, grandchildren Samantha, Mark, Gordon, Aoibheann and Caitlin and great-grandchildren, Cameron and Brogan.