Tributes to Edinburgh councillor, Tom Buchanan, who passed away in his sleep on Wednesday. The 55-year-old SNP politician, who represented Liberton and Gilmerton, was diagnosed with a brain tumour just over a year ago and had undergone surgery. He later decided to stand down as convener of the Council’s Economic Development Committee after five years in the job.
Steve Cardownie, leader of the SNP group on the Council, said that, while Mr Buchanan had been ill for some time, “it doesn’t lessen the shock or sadness of his leaving us so many years before his time. The impact that he had in a relatively short time with the council, and as economic development convener, was second-to-none. In the midst of a worldwide recession, his drive and stewardship of the city economy left Edinburgh in a much better place than it would have been without his leadership.
“Tom was incredibly hard working as well, always the first in and the last out of the office, but you could see how much he enjoyed it. Having worked with him for nearly six years I can say that he became a firm friend to me, and to many others, as well as a colleague. He will be very much missed by all of us and the city as a whole, but we hope that his work will have a fitting legacy in a proposed scholarship fund for Edinburgh’s young people.”
Andrew Burns, Edinburgh City Council leader, added this his thoughts “…and the thoughts of all those who worked with him, are with his family and friends at this very difficult time. Tom brought relentless energy and enthusiasm to his role as economic development convener, particularly to the council’s strategy for jobs. He was incredibly passionate about this, especially when it came to creating opportunities for young people, and he will rightly be remembered for it.”