Obituary: Reverend Norman Macleod

Educated at Musselburgh Grammar School and the Royal High School of Edinburgh, he was an apprentice with a medical X-ray company before doing his National Service in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, reaching the rank of corporal.

Later, after stints with the Legal & General Insurance Company and the County Fire Office, he felt called to the ministry aged 25.

Rev Macleod went on to become assistant minister to St Nicholas' Church, Sighthill and was fully ordained to his first charge at Armadale East, West Lothian, in June 1960.

He was also married that month to Margaret, whom he had met and got engaged to before beginning his studies.

He was appointed to St Ninian's, Glenrothes in 1965, and as chaplain to Glenwood High School he was known as "the raving rev" for refusing to wear his dog collar.

Ill-health forced him to retire in 1988, but he remained active in the church as a clerk.

He is survived by his wife, a son and daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Tributes have been paid to Deirdre MA Romanes, chief executive of Dunfermline Press Ltd, who sadly died on Monday, aged 60, after a long battle against illness.

During a distinguished 26-year career in newspapers, marked by the strong values of community, service and integrity that were her hallmark, Mrs Romanes was the driving force behind the expansion of the Fife-based Dunfermline Press Group into Scotland's largest independent newspaper holding.

Wicklow-born and with strong Co Meath connections, Mrs Romanes was a health professional before entering the newspaper industry.

In 1984 she joined her former husband, Iain – a fifth-generation member of a local newspaper publishing dynasty – on the board of A Romanes & Son Ltd, Dunfermline printers and publishers. Mrs Romanes served first as company secretary and then joint managing director before becoming chief executive some 12 years ago.

She presided over the continued expansion of the company, with title acquisitions in Eire, Northern Ireland, the Scottish Borders and Berkshire.

David Newell, director of the Newspaper Society, said, "Deirdre was a leading member of the Newspaper Society Council and marketing committee. She helped promote all that is good about our industry."

Mrs Romanes was also a committed supporter of many charities, among them PiggyBankKids, the charity launched by local MP Gordon Brown and wife Sarah in memory of their daughter.

Tom Little, editor of the Evening News, said: "I consider myself lucky to have known Deirdre. She wasn't just a talented businesswoman, she was also a kind and generous person."

Mrs Romanes is survived by a brother and two sisters.