This website uses cookies for anonymised analytics and for account authentication. See our privacy and cookies policies for more information.





The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

National Trust pays respects to Tam Dalyell

This news post is about 7 years old
 

​Former MP was closely involved with heritage charity his whole life

A charity has paid respects to veteran Scottish politician Tam Dalyell, who passed away on Thursday.

The National Trust for Scotland said the former Labour MP had been associated with the organisation since his parents gifted his ancestral home, the House of the Binns near Linlithgow, in 1944.

It issued a picture of Dalyell as a kilted schoolboy standing in the background of the handover ceremony (see above).

Over the years he maintained a close contact with the charity.

The National Trust for Scotland chief executive Simon Skinner said: "​Tam was infuriating, opinionated and absolutely wonderful.

"Whatever his political achievements and status, he was to us, just Tam.

"He made a point of attending our staff conferences and AGMs, characte​ristically offering comment and opinion on how we should be running the trust... and he was usually right.

"His presence at the House of the Binns, along with his beloved wife, Kathleen, who manages the property, ensured that visitors often enjoyed an experience that is rare for a historic house.

“They could be greeted by Tam, who would personally show them the various objects passed down by his family, as well as an astonishing array of momentoes from his long and eventful political career.

"We are all so sad at the news that Tam has passed away - we will miss him - there will never be his like again.

"Our thoughts are with Kathleen and the family."