Sad farewell to community hero Gerry Butler
I might not be an MSP any more, but I’m still involved in community events, despite warning the organisers that I might be plain Sue Webber by the time they came round.
I’m running a bake stall at Bonaly Primary School’s sports day at Campbell Park, to help raise money for a new basketball court at the park, which would be a fantastic asset. And I’m also opening the new tennis courts at Juniper Green which will also be a tremendous facility for the district.
But on Monday I was at a gathering to which invitations were not necessary and which I could not miss, which was the funeral of Gerry Butler, the stalwart chairman of Currie Football Club, who died suddenly while taking part in a walking football tournament in the Algarve, aged just 62.
Gerry’s commitment to youth football was passionate and total, introducing hundreds of youngsters to the game, but at the other end of the age range was hugely influential establishing walking football for older enthusiasts.
He asked for my help to secure pitches for Currie FC after the expansion of Currie Primary School, and I also helped him get the lighting fixed for evening training.
But there was more to him than football, and when we first met he was involved in everything – Nether Currie Primary Parent Council, Currie Community Centre, Currie and Balerno Round Table, and was even the Round Table’s Santa.
Such a lovely man who did so much for the whole community, he’ll never be replaced.