Obituary: Donald Whyte, author, 84

An author and leading authority on genealogy who spent his life in Edinburgh and the Lothians has died aged 84.

Donald Whyte, who was born on 13 March, 1926 in Newtongrange, Midlothian, started out as a farm worker after leaving school aged 14.

His career included being a local councillor and justice of the peace, but his real fascination was with family and Scottish history.

A clever child, Mr Whyte was educated at Currie Primary and Crookston School and aspired to grammar school, but he left early to support his family.

He worked with his father and then, during his teens and early 20s, moved around farms in various areas, but always returned to Kirkliston.

It was there he met his wife, Mary, whose family lived at Almondhill Farm, as did the Whyte family. They married at the Old Manse in Kirkliston in 1951 and had three daughters – Lorna, Catherine and Margaret.

Mr Whyte's interest in Scottish history led him to start researching the history of local farms and families who lived in the big houses in the surrounding area.

He compiled his own family history and in 1953 helped found the Scottish Genealogy Society in Edinburgh to advance the exchange and publication of related material.

He wrote the Kirkliston Parish History in 1956 and contributed history columns for a number of publications.

It was the start of a prolific writing career, which he combined with day jobs including coalman, cemetery keeper and lorry driver.

Mr Whyte was a member of about 30 organisations, including the Scottish Genealogy Society, in which he served as deputy chairman, honorary librarian and chairman of council. He remained an honorary vice-president until his death.

He was also elected a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists in 1986 and, in 1999, made an Honorary Fellow, only one of three.

He wrote a history of Scottish gypsies and other travellers and a series of clock and watchmakers volumes, both of which he had been determined to complete – and did so – before the effects of Parkinson's disease prevented him from writing.

He served on Winchburgh District Council from 1964 to 1970 and West Lothian County Council from 1970 to 1975.

The following year he became a JP, sitting first at Linlithgow and then Edinburgh District Courts.

He retired aged 65 but continued his genealogy work. Widowed in 1997, he enjoyed the company of his three daughters, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He died on 23 April, in Uphall, West Lothian.