Journalist who ‘supported real needs of people’

Jun 25 2009 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

AN UDDINGSTON man with a long and distinguished career in journalism has died aged 85.

Bob Brown – who had worked for the Glasgow Herald, The Times, The Guardian and the Economist – passed away earlier this month.

Mourners at the funeral service heard that Bob was a learned, engaging and very well-read man.

He was also described as someone of high values and integrity.

His wife Margaret, also a journalist, died in 2003 aged 77.

They had been married for 52 years and met at the Ayr Advertiser while working as reporters.

Bob was born in Shettleston in 1924 and educated at Eastbank Academy.

His career in journalism began at the Ayr Advertiser after leaving school in the early 1940s.

He later moved on to national dailies, and was the first Scottish correspondent for both The Times and The Guardian.

There were also spells as a press and information officer for Strathclyde University and the South of Scotland Electricity Board.

Bob retired aged 60, but continued to work in a freelance capacity.

He was a dedicated Socialist and long-standing member of the National Union of Journalists.

However, he left the Labour Party in the 1970s to join the breakaway Scottish Labour Party.

The Rev Norman McKee, who took the funeral service, told mourners: “He was possessed of an attitude that supported the real needs of people which he recognised so naturally.

“He worked in many ways to address these needs with great commitment and enthusiasm.”

Following retirement Bob continued to write features. However, he also found time for hobbies like gardening and reading and continued to be a keen supporter of Queen’s Park FC.

His funeral took place at Daldowie on June 11.

He is survived by sons Douglas and Andrew, daughter Sheena, daughter-in-law Anne Marie, grandchildren Natalie, David, Lara and Siobhan and great grandchildren Leon and Luca.