Obituary: John Fee, historian, 80

JOHN Fee, a renowned historian and storyteller, has died, aged 80.

Born in 1930 to parents Paddy and Catherine, John Fee was one of eight children. A natural athlete, he followed in his father's footsteps as a champion boxer, winning the Scottish Amateur Lightweight crown in 1949. Mr Fee also followed his father into the army doing National Service in Hong Kong with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

From the start Mr Fee had creative leanings and a series of jobs in the 1950s included scene painting for the King's Theatre and singing in the Opera Chorus. While at the King's he also produced a daily cartoon commenting on current goings on in the theatre, which proved more popular with some cast and crew than others.

In 1955 he married, and later became a father, which stimulated a passion for education which was to characterise the rest of his life. As his daughters recall, "He taught us how to paint, draw, write, pray, think and look on long walks all over Edinburgh - Pentlands, Hermitage, Cramond, Dean Village - and on hostelling holidays to the west coast of Scotland."

Education for Mr Fee was not just book learning but exploration, observation and participation in all aspects of community life including its stories and songs.

Nonetheless in 1967 he went to Edinburgh University as a full-time mature student, gaining an Honours degree in History and going on to teach History and Modern Studies.

As a teacher, Mr Fee was legendary - meticulous in preparation, demanding the best, yet above all compassionate and understanding.

Retiring eventually as head of History and Modern Studies at Ainslie Park Secondary School, he began a new career as the storytelling revival began at The Netherbow in Edinburgh's High Street, and quickly gained recognition as a master of the art.

Regaling packed audiences in The Waverley Bar's Guid Crack Club, pacing the Netherbow stage, hat clamped firmly to his head, or leading storytelling tours, Mr Fee was in his element.

Yet behind the entertainer was a deeply serious student of humanity, a person full of sincere religion, a wise and generous man whose goodness seeped through every pore, attracting respect, love and admiration.

Weeks from his death after a long and hard-fought battle against cancer, Mr Fee was still working on one of his stories - the tale of Ned Holt, painter and performer in Edinburgh's Old Town in the nineteenth century - an artist of the people whom he did not want forgotten.

John Fee is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mona, and daughters Angela and Lorna.