Arbroath town missionary and ex-citizen of the year Dr Bob Clapham dies aged 97

Arbroath town missionary and former town citizen of the year Dr Bob Clapham has died at the age of 97.

Dr Clapham moved to the town in 1950 as a missionary and spent 60 years in the post before retiring in July 2010, age 94.

While in charge, he was instrumental in transforming the Town Mission into a state-of-the-art facility which provides services for the elderly.

He was born and brought up in Lancashire and served his time as a plumber’s apprentice with Vickers-Armstrong in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, before a recession saw him move to Glasgow in 1938. He worked at Fairfield’s Shipyard in Govan for seven years.

In 1945 he became a missionary at the Seamen’s Bethel at the Broomielaw. His work for the elderly in Arbroath was recognised in 1990 when he was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Dr Clapham is predeceased by his wife Isabella and son Robert and survived by daughter Isabell.

A funeral service will take place at the Town Mission on Wednesday.