A life of service to Perth remembered

Aug 7 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE funeral will take place in St John’s Kirk, Perth, at 11.30 this morning of Robert Crawford, who retired as Town Officer with Perth and Kinross Council in 1985 after a distinguished career in local government spanning more than 40 years.

Known to everyone as Bert, he died very suddenly, aged 87, in Perth Royal Infirmary last Saturday morning – the day after he celebrated his 67th wedding anniversary with his beloved wife Elizabeth and their family.

Born in Perth on April 16, 1922, he lived with his parents in Craigie Park Terrace, Edinburgh Road, and was educated at Craigie Primary and then Balhousie Boys’ School.

He left at 14 and worked for gents’ outfitters Claude Alexander at the corner of Meal Vennel and High Street before moving to electrical firm Anderson and Munro in nearby George Street.

He started his apprenticeship with them when he turned 16 but when the Second World War broke out he joined the Territorial Army and was immediately called up.

He joined 527 Co of the RASC but because of his age wasn’t posted overseas. He served in a unit called Movement Control which oversaw all the ports in Scotland between Leith, Dundee, Aberdeen, Thurso, Scrabster, Orkney and Shetland.

He later served with the Royal Engineers but was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer and was medically discharged in September, 1943.

He then worked in a variety of roles of roles with Perth Town Council, including their Welfare Department which was responsible for Civil Defence at Fechney Buildings, Bertha Home and Craigie House, in Craigie Knowes Road.

He then became Assistant Town Officer early in 1946 and was appointed Town Officer in 1959.

During his many years of service he worked with 10 Lord Provosts and Provosts, from Sir John Ure Primrose to John Mathieson, who was civic chief when Bert retired in June, 1985.

One of Perth’s best-known figures, he was present when The Black Watch, former Prime Ministers Sir Winston Churchill and Sir Anthony Eden, Sir Stanley Norie-Miller, of General Accident, Mr W G Farquharson, of Bell’s Scotch whisky, Lord Cameron of Balhousie and former Lord Provost David K Thomson received the Freedom of the City.

His numerous civic duties included the opening of the first high-rise flats in Perth in 1959; the Queen’s visit to Perth in 1960 to mark the 750th anniversary of the city and to open the Queen’s Bridge; the opening of St John’s Square the following year; and the reunion of the 51st Highland Division on the North Inch in 1963, attended by Field Marshall Montgomery.

He was also present when the last execution took place at Perth Prison in 1948.

Bert also witnessed the end of the town council in 1974 and the reorganisation of local government and the creation of the new district council.

He was awarded the 1939-45 War Medal and General Service Medal and in 1977 was proud to receive the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal.

During his Army service he played football for Parkvale Juniors when he was stationed in Aberdeen for two years and also turned out for Mannofield X1 in the Aberdeenshire Cricket League.

He continued to play football in the early post-war years and was a strong-tackling wing-half with St James Juniors in Perth.

Bert later became a keen St Johnstone supporter and was a regular at many of their home games.

Pigeon racing and breeding was another of his hobbies and from 1947-1957 he was secretary of the Perth and District Club, later becoming president.

A member of the Lifeboys and Boys’ Brigade in his younger days, he continued that interest in later life and was an officer with the 7th Perth Co.

He had a life-long association with St John’s Kirk and served as an elder from 1965 until his death.

Bert had the distinction of attending 62 consecutive annual dinners of the Society of High Constables of the City of Perth.

While Town Officer, he was initially their toastmaster, resplendent in his red waistcoat and tails, and after his retiral he was a regular guest of the many friends he had made among the council’s bodyguards.

Bert is survived by his wife Elizabeth, whom he married in 1942, sons Jim and Stewart, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.