DAVID DICKSON 26.12.1950 – 8.8.2016
David was Manager of North Edinburgh childcare for over 10 years. He joined as the founding manager and developed the organisation from an ambitious local project to a thriving social enterprise with partners and connections across the city and beyond.
He lived and breathed youth and community work and had a wide and varied background from a range of both voluntary and statutory provisions. He developed many strong connections during his time at the Centre – some becoming lifelong friends, including his Chairperson Betty McVay.
In his latter years as Manager, David “commuted” to his home in Skye and took early “retirement” at the age of 55. He was a keen hillwalker and traveller and planned to mix spending time with family with heading further afield for adventures. It was during one of these adventures that David took ill unexpectedly in New Zealand and after an emergency operation found out that he had cancer and his time may be limited.
Once home, in true David fashion, he pushed boundaries and even after being told he couldn’t travel outside the UK, managed a trip to the Scilly Isles – a place he had always wanted to visit at almost the furthest he could go without leaving the UK.
He is survived by his wife Pat, (who he met while working at the Childcare Centre), his children Jenny and Justin and grandchildren Ossian and William.
David was a great story teller over a good meal and a bottle of wine and had many interesting stories and fond memories of his time with the centre.
PAT ARMSTRONG
