Modest Alison was renowned for hospitality

Published on Tuesday 16 June 2009 09:49

Alison Elwell-Sutton, a founding member of Merchiston Community Council, has died aged 83.

Mrs Elwell-Sutton was born Alison Baxter on 3 October, 1925 in Bearsden, Glasgow, the eldest daughter of ship surveyor Archibald Baxter and his wife Mary, a bank teller.

She attended the Park School for Girls in Glasgow, before going on to become an engineer in The Wrens (The Women's Royal Naval Service) during the Second World War.

She was granted a compassionate discharge in 1946 when her mother was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer and after caring for her until her death the following year she went on to train as a physiotherapist at Glasgow's Western Infirmary.

The early 1950s saw a complete change in direction when the young Alison left the Western to pursue her literary aspirations, taking a job at John Smith's bookstore on St Vincent Street and later going on to complete an honours degree in English at Edinburgh University.

She supplemented this with a teaching degree from Glasgow's Jordanhill College of Education and went on to become a teacher.

She met her husband, Edinburgh University Oriental studies lecturer Professor Laurence Elwell-Sutton, at a party in Glasgow in the early 1960s.

Mr Elwell-Sutton was a widower with two young children at home, whom she cared for as her own, and they were soon joined by a daughter, Norah Violet, who was born in 1969.

Professor Elwell-Sutton's job took the family around the world and in 1971 they were invited by the Shah of Iran to attend the 2,500th anniversary of the Iranian monarchy, allowing the professor to visit local tribal villages and record their folk tales for his studies.

The whole family, including the two-year-old Norah, were taken from Britain to Iran in a Volkswagen Camper, giving them plenty of time to take in countries on the way.

When Norah reached school age, Mrs Elwell-Sutton returned to physiotherapy part-time, but later gave up her job to become a busy housewife at her home in Merchiston Gardens and a committed community representative.

Bridget Stevens, chair of Merchiston Community Council, said: "Alison was a member the Community Council ever since its formation nearly 30 years ago and she remained on it until her death.

"A former teacher and physiotherapist, Alison was always keen to take an active part in conferences, consultations and, if ever a volunteer was called for, Alison's was the first hand to go up.

"We really will miss Alison. She was such a lovely person, so modest, bright, funny, and generous. From time to time we held informal meetings in her front room and always greatly enjoyed her renowned hospitality."

Mrs Elwell-Sutton's later years were marred by tragedy when her daughter Norah, who had gone on to become a BBC radio actress, died in the hills during a blizzard on Beinn Narnairn, near Arrochar in Argyll. She was 31.

Mrs Elwell-Sutton remained committed to the community and her hobbies included gardening, the arts and entertaining friends with her famous Persian cooking.

She died suddenly from a stroke on 14 May. Merchiston Community Council is arranging to send a donation to the Arrochar Mountain Rescue Service in her memory.