Steve Mitchell: A passion for the history of Leith and Boys' Brigade

Published on Thursday 18 December 2008 08:51

STEVE MITCHELL, one of the driving forces behind the campaign for a Leith Museum, has died after a brave battle with cancer.

Tributes have been paid to Stephen Rowan Bogie Mitchell, 61, who died from cancer of the oesophagus on November 29.

Mr Mitchell, who was known to most as Steve, was an enthusiastic advocate of Leith's history and culture.

As well as his support for a Leith Museum, he was a member of the Leith Local History Society.

He was also the main organiser for the exhibition of the 'Rolls of Honour' for the fallen members of 1st Leith Boys' Brigade in World War One and volunteered as a press officer for Leith Festival last year.

His wife Margaret said: "He did an awful lot when we came back up to Edinburgh last year although he was disabled.

"He was in the middle of writing a book for the centenary of 1st Leith Boys' Brigade this year. He was very much a Boys' Brigade man and was a member of the Leith Brigade as a boy and went through the ranks, becoming an officer.

"When we came back to Edinburgh he got in touch with the Boys' Brigade again, and he and his friend Ian Ross were writing the book. Ian has promised that he will finish it."

Mr Mitchell was born in the Capital's Western General on July 27, 1947 to Mary Bogie and William Mitchell.

An only child, Mr Mitchell grew up in the family home on Fort Place in Leith and was a pupil at Leith Academy.

He met his wife-to-be, Margaret Evans, now 61, at a dance in Fountainbridge when they were both 17 years old.

Six years later in 1970, the couple married at Drylaw Parish Church.

They went on to have two children, Ewan, 31 and Graeme, 26.

Mr Mitchell died before the arrival of his first grandchild who is expected in April next year.

His first job was as a clerical assistant for Edinburgh Council's transport department.

In 1970 the couple moved to Birmingham where, for around two years, Mr Mitchell worked as a purchasing assistant for Midland Red bus company.

From there the couple moved to Lancashire in 1972 where they stayed until 1980.

The couple had their first son, Ewan, while living in Lancashire.

They moved back to Scotland, this time to Straven, in 1980 for three years where Mr Mitchell worked as a purchasing manager for Rockwell International, which produced valves for heavy industry.

The couple's second son, Graeme, was born in Straven.

They returned to Lancashire in 1983, where Mr Mitchell returned to work as a purchasing manager for Ingersoll-Rand.

The family moved to Milton Keynes around 1998 where Mr Mitchell took a position as a purchasing director for Lancer Boss, buying different parts for heavy machinery, but was made redundant after a year.

Mr Mitchell's ill health brought the couple back to Edinburgh, this time to West Granton Road in Granton, in April 2007.

Mr Mitchell was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in March this year, spending his last six weeks in St Columba's Hospice.