Obituary: Tom J Burness OBE, college principal

Tom Burness, born in Springburn, Glasgow, was the oldest of four children and the only boy in the family.

Educated at Shawlands Academy, he then worked briefly as an Inland Revenue tax officer before studying at Glasgow University where he obtained an MA (Hons) in English Literature and Language.

There followed a position as a graduate management trainee with British Rail – at the time when Dr Beeching’s rationalisation of BR was at its height.

By now he had met Kay, who was to become his lifelong partner, and together they decided to study for their teaching diplomas. Tom also graduated from St Andrews University with an MLitt degree.

At that point, 1965, he made a decision which shaped the rest of his career and their lives together – he became a lecturer at Langside College.

There followed seven years as a lecturer in management studies at the Dundee Institute of Art and Technology – now the University of Abertay.

In 1975, on promotion to head of industrial studies, he moved to Glenrothes College, beginning an association with the college over the next 24 years which culminated in his appointment as depute college principal and then college principal in 1984.

He always felt this period, between 1975 and 1983, was the most rewarding of his career, with the college at the forefront in terms of developing new education and training  initiatives. In keeping with his philosophy that “chance favours the prepared mind” he brought his earlier experience to bear in the rapid expansion and purposeful development of the college.

This success led to other government-sponsored contracts which included Tops (Training Opportunities) courses for unemployed adults.

During this time the college also won an Open Tech contract, against stiff competition from other colleges throughout the UK, to run the Computer Aided Training Services (Cats) on behalf of Fife Council.

In a wider further education and community education context Tom served on a number of national boards and committees and he played a very active part as a member of the Howie committee (the review of upper secondary education) which led later to his participation on the Curriculum and Assessment Group for Higher Still.

His interests also included being on the board of Kingdom FM Radio and he was a member of the Court of the University of Abertay.

In 2008 on the award of his Honorary Fellowship the university paid tribute to “his broad and deep understanding of all aspects of education”.

Well deserved recognition of his commitment and achievements came in 1992 with the award of the OBE for services to education.

A clear and concise thinker, he was a strategist who was able to enthuse and take people with him. Within the further education sector he was held in high regard by his colleagues, many of whom sought him out to discuss the challenges facing further education, particularly at the time of incorporation (1993) when colleges left local authority control and became independent.

He was a man of sensibility as well as sense, who didn’t go in much for pride or prejudice, and he was excellent company.

For all his successes – and they were many – he was at his happiest when he was at home with his wife, Kay to whom he was married for 48 years.

On his retirement we more regularly shared their interest in music and film with many concert and cinema visits. This friendship broadened to include regular holidays in Holland and Belgium, where we followed our own interests through the day and met up each evening to share our experiences over dinner and plan the next day’s itineraries.

Sadly, recent health problems meant regular hospital attendance for Tom and some admissions, all of which he bore with great patience and fortitude.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Kay, their daughter Claudia, of whom he was very proud, her husband Andy and their children Cameron and Holly, along with his wider family.

ACB