Family man, friend and active citizen
Gavin MacGregor, one of the founders of the Broughton Spurtle, died on 25 May 2026, aged 85. His funeral took place at Warriston Crematorium on 10 June. Below we publish a slightly edited version of the eulogy delivered on that occasion, written jointly by his daughters Tessa and Paula MacGregor.
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Early life
Gavin McKenzie MacGregor arrived into the world on 1 May 1941 and was the only child to William (known as Bill) and Jean. Gavin was brought home to 4 East London Street. His mother had lived in the family home there since she was a child, and it remained in the family until Gavin was 81 years old.
After Gavin’s grandmother died, his grandfather John and aunt Cecil lived with him and his parents, and Jean was like a mother to Cecil. Cecil was a teenager when Gavin was born, and they shared a close bond throughout their lives.
Gavin’s father was originally from Glasgow. He worked in the War Office when he moved through to Edinburgh, and Gavin's grandfather and Uncle Jackie ran the family business, the McKenzie’s Hardware store in Broughton Street, which was a big part of community life.
Gavin’s mum Jean was very much the glue that held the McKenzie family together, and Gavin spent a lot of time with his cousins, Ian, Douglas, Euan and latterly, Elizabeth, along with neighbours, aunts and uncles.
It was a nurturing home and the heart and hub of the wider family. East London Street was a magnet for family gatherings and occasions; Jean was a warm host, and Gavin took on that mantle.
Gavin’s grandfather joined family holidays, and Gavin had fond memories of spending time with him in Pittenweem. Day trips would be spent with a picnic on the beach in Portobello, the Pentlands, Lauriston Castle and the Hermitage.
During his time at Heriot's, Gavin made lasting friendships, including Gordon Lister, Bill Moody and Norman Irons. Literature, music and theatre were his passions; he loved taking part in school plays and amateur dramatics in general.
There was a piano at home and Gavin was encouraged musically. He went to the youth fellowship and attended concerts and theatre with his father and his friends and worked part time as an usher at the Usher Hall.
Sadly, Gavin’s mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. During this time, she encouraged Gavin to go on a road trip with his school friends. The four of them drove across Europe in an open top car. The experience opened Gavin’s mind to politics and culture, and he wrote to his parents by letter and shared his adventures.
Gavin also spent time with Cecil and her family. She had settled in Norway with her airman husband Arvid.
Gavin’s mother died in 1962, aged only 54, and she had recently hosted Gavin’s 21st birthday party earlier that year.
By this time, Gavin’s father was in poor health, and Gavin looked after him until he died in 1964, aged 64, when Gavin was 23.
Losing his parents was a profound sadness for Gavin, and this manifested in different ways throughout his life. He was always very stoic about things, but he also felt things very deeply.
As he navigated this time, he was supported by his mum’s friend Mrs Craig, Jean’s cousin; Aunty Joey and her best friend Sophia (Auntie Fi).
Marriage and a family of his own
Gavin and his future wife Kate grew up in the same area, and loosely knew each other as teenagers. Their worlds collided again when they ran into each other at the airport. By this time, Gavin had blossomed into a dashing young man and was quite a catch. However, as retold by their close friend and joint ‘partner in crime’ Kay, he really fell for Kate in a big way.
Gavin and Kate married in 1967 in Hopetoun Church, on McDonald Road. Gavin was warmly welcomed by Kate’s parents Bob and Evelyn and sisters Liz and Dorothy (now passed). After they married, Gavin and Kate had a marvellous time on their honeymoon in Paris, followed by a Mediterranean cruise. They were a glamorous couple and they loved to party and entertain with friends and colleagues.
Gavin and Kate’s daughter Tessa was born in July 1970, followed by Paula in July 1972.
Gavin loved being a husband and a father and he was a family man. He was very loving, available and encouraging and he was hands-on. He encouraged his daughters musically ,and when Tessa and Paula played the cello at London Street Primary, at one time he would have 4 cellos and 4 cello players in one small car as he drove his girls and their friends to orchestra practice.
Gavin made his daughters feel special, and celebrating milestones with family was important to him. Birthdays were always extra special, and Gavin would source the perfect cake and decorations and take them to lunch to the place he thought they would enjoy.
Both Tessa and Paula have inherited their dad’s dry sense of humour – Gavin had a way of gently putting others at ease with his storytelling, observations and warmth.
Despite growing up in a top floor flat he enjoyed spending time in nature and drove the family to local beauty spots like Hailes Castle to see the daffodils and Cammo to enjoy the snowdrops. He particularly liked a National Trust property and a historic monument.
Career and causes
Gavin’s early working life was spent in insurance, which he enjoyed. He was quietly intellectually ambitious and made the decision to attain more Highers at night school. When Tessa was a baby, he went on to study Law and Industrial Relations at Strathclyde University, commuting to Glasgow for his studies. For many years he worked in the Assessor’s Office and then went on to the Education Department with Lothian Region as a Personnel Manager.
He was 100 per cent committed to The Scottish Liberals, as the party then was. He even got Tessa and Paula involved in canvassing and helping to organise jumble sales. Through the Scottish Liberals Gavin was invited to East Berlin as a part of a delegation that went to the European Council. Through these endeavours he made connections, including striking a friendship up with Maureen O’Neill.
For various reasons Gavin retired relatively early at the age of 50, but he wasn’t idle and he had his causes, which you will hear more about soon. He was an integral part of the Hopetoun Residents Association in partnership with friends and neighbours Eileen and John Dickie.
He was always doing something, whether stoking a creative interest or contributing towards the greater good. He was particularly committed to the well-being and rights of children and for many years was a member of the Children’s Panel, serving latterly as Chair of the Children’s Hearing System. He dedicated further years of contribution during his retirement, stopping only due to Covid.
Grandparenthood and later life
In the 1990’s Gavin welcomed his sons-in-law Michael and Tim into the family.
Soon after, he became a wonderful grandad to Aidan and Eve and was a part of the care fabric of his grandchildren’s lives. Gavin and Kate both loved being grandparents and were full of zest at the time. When Aidan was born, he joked about evening out the numbers as he had always been surrounded by women.
Eve remembers cooking with her grandad. Gavin passed down family traditions such as making Christmas cake — and she knows how to make his trifle. He loved to take Aidan and Eve to the Botanics for coffee and scones, to Inverleith Park to feed the swans and to the Usher Hall for children’s concerts.
Gavin was a loyal and trustworthy friend to many and, after Kate died, he found comfort in his family and friends that were there for him. Deortha, a dear friend of both Kate and Gavin’s, meant a lot to Gavin. She is a fellow music lover and concert-going companion and shared a lot of Gavin’s interest in music, art and history. When Deortha moved to Vienna, Kate and Gavin, and then latterly Gavin would spend lovely holidays there.
Humour was a huge part of Gavin’s approach to life and a solace. When dark clouds came in, he would keep going, and he would use humour.
He was a man who didn’t like to plan grand gestures for himself, but for his 75th birthday he decided that he wanted to take his family on holiday. After various suggestions, they decided on Amsterdam. They had a wonderful time, visiting museums, fine dining in restaurants and staying in a quirky local home. He also got to see the Vermeers in the Rijksmuseum.
A major heart operation in 2022 precipitated Gavin leaving his home at 4 East London Street. He moved to Liberton, which was a big adjustment for him. He was driving until last year, but sadly, in time, as his health declined, it became harder for him leave the flat.
Gavin would play Radio Scotland and Radio Four from morning until night and vicariously live life by keeping up with what was going on in the world. He had etiquette and rules about the way he lived his life and the TV was never switched on before 7pm. He read, watched dramas and listened to plays and he embraced technology and online shopping.
He was stoic until the end and appreciated his family coming over regularly, including visits from old friends like Elizabeth.
After having a fall at home, Gavin was admitted into the Royal Infirmary in April. During this time, he was diagnosed with cancer. After spending three weeks in hospital, he moved into the care of Marie Curie on the Wednesday before he died.
Some of Gavin’s friends and family managed to have a last visit with him in hospital, which he really did appreciate. During his time in Marie Curie, Gavin was surrounded by his close family. At the close of his life, Tessa and Paula and Aidan and Eve were with him. They played him music, stayed with him through the night, and were with him when he died, on 25 May.
Words and memories from son-in-law Michael
Daughters Tessa and Paula have asked me to share some of the family’s recollections of Gavin; to say why he was such a special person, and so loved by us and by his friends.
Apart from his last 4 years, Gavin lived his whole life in one community; in East London Street, Broughton, in the heart of Edinburgh. Gavin’s roots in that community were deep: he lived in the same flat at No. 4 his grandparents had first rented in 1914 and which his parents had bought in 1939. That’s where he and Kate lived their whole married life and where they brought up their 2 daughters.
Community was very important to Gavin. He was an activist; deeply involved in local politics and community. He was a founder member of the local newspaper – the Broughton Spurtle, still going strong – and a member of the Broughton History Society. No-one knew the local area, its lore and characters, better than he did.
Gavin served on the parent councils of London Street Primary School and Drummond Community High School and along with other parents set up and ran the Friday Club for the children of their community.
He was political, with a strong focus on local action. He was a patriotic Scot but never parochial. A dear friend said of him that he was, 'One of the early emancipated men, deciding what his role in personal relations and his place in society were going to be …. He was critical of organisations, but not often of individual people.' He was particularly committed to the wellbeing and rights of children.
Throughout his life Gavin retained a keen interest in Scottish politics, and contributed to local democracy through his work at elections. For many years he and Kate could be found with their big tartan flask at St Mary’s Primary school polling station where they both worked as returning officers.
Gavin and Kate married in 1967. Together they led a very full social and cultural life. In the 1960s and 1970s they embraced the new opportunities for travel available to their generation. The photo albums tell a story of foreign holidays and cruises, Kate in a wide-brimmed hat, usually dancing. Gavin possibly in a Panama hat, definitely not dancing. They loved the sun, and the Greek islands were a particular favourite in their later years.
Kate and Gavin made many great friends over the years and shared some wonderful times. Their parties at 4 East London Street were legendary. Kate was front of house, Gavin was chef and wine waiter. Kate took the compliments, Gavin took the coats.
Gavin was a serial best man and godfather, and he was always there to support his friends and elder relations, just as they had been there for him when he lost his mother when he was only 21. Some of Gavin’s most treasured memories were of times he and Kate spent with good friends enjoying lively discussions over dinner, or on long walks and weekends away. It is lovely to see some of those old friends here today. Gavin greatly valued your friendship just as you valued his.
The loss of his beloved Kate in 2013 was hard for Gavin, but he pushed himself out into the world and made the best of life, finding consolation, as he had always done, in art and culture and especially music.
Gavin was a lifelong supporter of the arts in Edinburgh. He was a Friend of the Galleries, a season ticket holder at Scottish Opera and the RSNO and an avid supporter and Friend of Edinburgh International Festival. He saw Olivier play Hamlet at the General Assembly on the Mound, and nearly saw Maria Callas at the King's in 1957 but that was the year she went home early – no loss, he preferred her understudy. It was with other Friends of the International Festival that late in life he made a pilgrimage to the spiritual home of opera at La Scala in Milan.
Gavin was devoted to his family. He was an only child and lost his own parents at a young age. When his own family came along, he and Kate embraced parenthood – Paula and Tessa enjoyed a full and activity-packed childhood of music lessons, concerts, Brownies and swimming clubs, and they have precious memories of holidays in Pittenweem and Pitlochry, as well as further afield in Italy and Yugoslavia.
When the grandchildren, Aidan and Eve, arrived, Kate and Gavin took to their new role as grandparents with great enthusiasm, and could not have been more helpful and supportive. Our children have fond memories of day trips away in the car with Grandma and Grandad to places like Dalkeith Country Park, Vogrie, Lauriston Castle, places where they had taken Tessa and Paula as children. Sweets were raided from Grandad’s bag in the glove box and birthdays meant endless treats and a trip to Toys R Us. Nursery pickups, school fairs and children’s parties were all gladly added to Gavin’s bulging Filofax.
Christmas, cake and crosswords
Christmas was a special time for Gavin. A family highlight every year was his amazing Christmas breakfast when he would hold court in the kitchen at East London St, unflappable in his apron, and serve up the best full Scottish anyone ever cooked.
Gavin loved visiting Tessa in her years in London and their special bond over their shared love of art and music lasted right to the end of Gavin’s life.
Gavin’s humour deserves a special mention: he had a quick and ironic wit, and a deep love of words and language. He was a demon at Scrabble and no opportunity for a pun passed him by. In his last few months, when he lamented his inability to finish the Scotsman cryptic crossword, I would remind him that most people couldn’t start it.
In his last few weeks his words and phrases still came out beautifully; just not necessarily in the right order. But he always found the words to be polite and kind to those caring for him. We want to thank the wonderful staff of the Marie Curie Hospice in Fairmilehead for caring for Gavin so well in his last days. And we want to acknowledge and thank Tessa for her dedication to Gavin’s care over the past couple of years as his health declined.
The family have received some beautiful tributes to Gavin, recalling his kindness, gentleness and the value of his friendship and support over the years.
We will miss Gavin terribly of course. But today we celebrate his life, his contribution to his community and above all to his family.
Thank you for the laughs, and for all your love which has supported us, and helped shape us and make us who we are.
Toodle pip, Gavin: Dad, Grandad, dear friend.
