Tributes have been paid to former Lord Provost Kenneth Borthwick, who has died age 101.
Lord Provost Frank Ross described the ex-Commonwealth Games Chairman as a “colourful character’.
Elected in 1956, Leith-born Mr Borthwick was Lord Provost between 1977 – 1980.
He died peacefully last week at the Royal Infirmary aged 101.
He was a pupil at Hermitage Park Primary and George Heriot’s before joining the police force at 19 in Aberdeen. After a stint in South Africa he returned to Edinburgh to enter local politics.
Mr Ross said: “I was sad to hear of the passing of Kenneth Borthwick – a stalwart of local government politics. As a sports enthusiast, Ken drove support for the creation of the Council’s famous Royal Commonwealth Pool, the Hill-end Ski Slope and upgrades to Meadowbank Sports Centre. A colourful character with a varied career, Ken Borthwick was both a Sergeant in the Royal Airforce and Dean of the Edinburgh and Leith Consular Corps; a confectioner and also Chair the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
“I would like to pay tribute to his time as a Councillor and Lord Provost and pass our sympathies to his son, daughter and grandchildren on their loss.”
