Obituary

Family man, friend and active citizen

(7 April 1934–31 October 2025)

Ian Brown, who died last year aged 91, was a retired eye surgeon and an engagingly eccentric figure who was held in great affection in the neighbourhood of Dublin Street and Queen Street Gardens and beyond. 

Instantly recognisable striding out in his cap and brick-red trousers, with his warm greeting and (sometimes puzzling) jokes, he was known to a remarkably wide range of people, from publicans and Stockbridge market stallholders to local celebrities and grandees.

John Dickie, founding editor of the Broughton Spurtle, died on 28 December 2024, aged 83. His funeral took place at Warriston Crematorium on 20 January. Below we publish a slightly extended version of the eulogy delivered on that occasion, written jointly by his sons Mure, John and Andrew Dickie.

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John Dickie will stir no more

John Dickie (83), founding editor of the Broughton Spurtle (1994–2006), died in the small hours of this morning.

His death occurred peacefully at the Western General Hospital, where he had been ill for some time. Loved ones were at his side constantly as the end neared.

Holiday-related delays, and John’s decision to leave his body to medical science, mean that the timing of funeral arrangements cannot yet be established. We’ll publicise them here when we know more.

2 July 1930—12 June 2024

Eric Robinson was born in Hanley, Stoke on Trent, on 2 July 1930 to Carrie and Leslie Robinson. Music played a significant part in Eric’s life, right from the start. His father Leslie was a violinist who played in various amateur and semi-professional groups, as well as being an accomplished cinema musician accompanying the silent films around Stoke. 

Our friend and colleague John Ross Maclean died last night.

He was a charming aesthete: a lover of fine art, poetry, wine, and all growing things. He was insatiably curious about people. He was intrigued by birds and admired cats.

He was entangled in a vast and multi-layered net of Highland memories, genealogies, folklore and historical connections.

He was for many years a member of the New Town & Broughton Community Council and served also on the Drummond Civic Association, whose annual Newsletter he helped assemble.

 Obituary: Reverend Peter Macdonald 

Many across Broughton and beyond have been saddened by the Reverend Peter Macdonald’s sudden death on 12 February.

Macdonald became Minister at Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church in November 2018 (Issue 278), having already served here as locum for 10 months.