Obituary: Thomas Brown Buchanan, councillor

Born: 30 January, 1958, in Lanark. Died: 3 April, 2013, in Edinburgh, aged 55.

Although his family, friends and colleagues knew that Tom Buchanan’s death had become inevitable due to an inoperable brain tumour, nevertheless there was still an air of shock among them at the news of his passing yesterday morning. His courage and his tenacity in facing his final illness had made it seem possible that a miracle might happen and that he might survive, but in the end the odds were against him.

The premature death of Tom Buchanan has robbed Edinburgh of a doughty fighter for the city, a man who really cared about his fellow citizens, and worked long hours – he was often seen at his desk in the City Chambers before 7am – in his sterling efforts to improve the lot of business and industry in the capital, and who was equally committed to assisting the young and unemployed.

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The Scottish National Party has lost one of its most distinguished councillors, a leading member who believed that independence would free up the talents of his fellow Scots to achieve more.

The tributes and many expressions of grief yesterday from all sides of politics in Edinburgh were genuine and sincere, for even if they disagreed with his, his political opponents knew him as a decent and approachable man, a hard worker, a diligent councillor and a real campaigner for the betterment of the city he loved.

Thomas Brown Buchanan was born in Lanark, the son of James and Jean Buchanan. The family moved to Stranraer while he was still a young boy and Buchanan was educated at the town’s High School.

His further education began at Napier College of Commerce and Technology, now Napier University, in 1978. He gained a degree in commerce and marketing and then completed his studies in marketing at Galashiels College.

It was almost inevitable that Buchanan would move to Edinburgh at some stage in his life. He would often recall his first visit to the city as a young child and his excitement at seeing the castle on its rock. In truth, he never really lost his wonderment at the beauty of the capital, and would extol its virtues to anybody who would listen, particularly visiting dignitaries and business people.

The initial move to Edinburgh brought Buchanan into contact with the two great loves of his life, his wife Evelyn, to whom he was devoted for nearly three decades of marriage, and Heart of Midlothian FC. It is safe to say that while Evelyn was the rock in his life, his relationship with the latter caused him more than a fair share of grief over the years, albeit interspersed with great joy at cup final victories.

After finishing his education, Buchanan moved seamlessly into a career in sales and marketing, at which he excelled. Working in both the private and public sector, he picked up a vast array of contacts and travelled extensively yet always maintained his home in Edinburgh.

Becoming adept at business administration, he found his real métier in business development and advice, acting as a consultant for diverse bodies, such as Harrogate Council. His knowledge of European structural fund programmes was unrivalled.

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Buchanan always took an interest in his locality of Liberton, Alnwickhill and Gilmerton, and joined the SNP in the area, becoming council candidate in 2006. Duly elected for the Liberton/Gilmerton ward the next year, he was immediately elevated to the post of convener of Economic Development in the Liberal Democrat-SNP administration. He also sat on the Finance and Resources Committee and the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee.

Becoming convener was quite a jump for a new councillor, but Buchanan took it in his stride, bringing a fresh approach to the task that hugely impressed officials and councillors.

He earned the reputation for being someone who really knew his territory, and it was a job he would keep for five years, surviving a second election and moving into the Labour/SNP administration until the effects of the brain tumour overtook him.

He was a success because he threw himself wholeheartedly into the job, in which he realised he could make a difference for the city. He also took on an extensive list of duties that came with his post.

At one time or another, Buchanan was chair of the Capital City Partnership, Waterfront Edinburgh Ltd, PARC Craigmillar, CEC Holdings and vice chair of the Edinburgh Convention Bureau.

He was also a board member of SEStran, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Project Edinburgh Limited, Clocktower Edinburgh, Edinburgh Retail Investments and Gyle Developments.

Business was not his only concern: Buchanan was instrumental in setting up the city’s Economic Action Resilience Network (Earn) which helps people who have been made redundant find new careers. He was also involved in the Executive Skills Bank.

Tom Buchanan was the most personable of men, always willing to meet new people and form working relationships with them. This was a skill he put to good use on behalf of the city, especially when trying to attract new businesses to the city. Perhaps his proudest achievement was his role in bringing the Green Investment Bank to Edinburgh.

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A keen sportsman from his youth, Buchanan was a very eager golfer and a rugby fan. He loved cycling, and was never happier than when tending to his well-kept garden.

His devotion to Hearts did not extend, as was often mischievously rumoured, to him bending over backwards to get the council to help the troubled club, but he was concerned over many years that the Hearts community should continue to exist.

In bygone days, it was the custom of councils to name new streets after departed prominent councillors.

Buchanan did not enter politics to have his name on a street sign, but when Edinburgh Council next comes to consider naming a facility that is involved in business or training, it would seem apposite to name it after Tom Buchanan.

Tom Buchanan is survived by his wife Evelyn and brother Sandy.

MARTIN HANNAN