Obituary: Ian Frain

Ian Frain showed ability in leadership early, and so it proved little surprise that he was appointed provost of Laurencekirk in Kincardineshire at the age of 44. As events showed, he was the last such civic leader of the town that claims for itself the title "capital of the Mearns", the rich agricultural howe made famous by writer Lewis Grassic Gibbon, and as the birthplace of William Burnes, the father of Robert Burns.

But if anyone was due the parallel appellation "champion of the Mearns", it was Ian Millar Frain. As rector of the local Mearns Academy, a long-standing town councillor, district representative and member for the area on Grampian Regional Council, he was a fastidious promoter of the place and the people. In doing so, it was the mark of the man that he himself eschewed pomposity and self-seeking, characteristics always absent from the square frame of an essentially modest man. For all that his whole life centred on Laurencekirk, Frain came into this world Down Under, where his Aberdeen father Victor worked for Auckland Harbour Board before returning to the Granite City in the early 1930s. The family always espoused education, and the young Ian proved a bright lad, winning a scholarship to Robert Gordon's College, and graduating in classics from Aberdeen University.

When a post for a classics master occurred in Kincar- dineshire, Frain moved to Laurencekirk, and immediately felt at home. The embrace proved mutual, and he entered public service as a town councillor for the burgh.

Mr Frain's ability to conduct council business decisively and with a light touch gained him a reputation for covering an agenda without prolonged discussion. Always independently minded - he only ever stood for election as an independent - he proved a popular figure for local government reporters, for his meetings were noted for their clarity, lack of obfuscation and a complete disregard for party politics.

In 1975, he moved from being last provost of Laurencekirk (the town had been instituted as a burgh of barony in 1779) to become first convener of Kincardine and Deeside District Council, and then into the successor Grampian Region.

When further local government reorganisation occurred in 1996 following moves by Michael Forsyth, then Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Frain was elected to Aberdeenshire Council.

Mr Frain was appointed MBE for public service in 1995. When he stood down from formal work eight years later, he had become one of Scotland's longest-serving councillors. Not that he shut the door on local authority work, for after retirement, his counsel and advice was frequently sought in the affairs of the local community council.

He was recently diagnosed with cancer, and died in hospital in Brechin. He is survived by his wife Lorna, daughters Lesley, Karen and Louise, and four grandchildren.

GORDON CASELY