Former Dundee councillor Frank Christie has died after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Mr Christie, who was 67, spent more than 20 years as a Labour member of Dundee District Council and later Dundee City Council. Born in the city, he was raised in Mid Craigie and attended Morgan Academy.
He trained as an accountant, although he had a wide-ranging knowledge of arts and culture.
He joined Dundee Labour Party and was elected to Dundee District Council in 1977, serving as housing convener, cultural services convener and later becoming planning and transportation convener with the city council.
In the mid-1980s, as cultural services convener, Frank played a major role in bringing back the Discovery to the city, successfully negotiating with Tony Banks MP of the-then Greater London Council and the Maritime Trust, who maintained the historic ship.
After losing his Whitfield seat in 1999, Frank attended teacher training in Aberdeen and taught for a while at St John’s in Dundee before moving to London to teach. He returned to the city and St John’s in 2005.
He was diagnosed with cancer five years ago and although seemingly successfully treated with radiotherapy, the cancer returned while he was visiting his son Jonathan in Australia late last year.
Frank had been married twice, to Jonathan’s mother Linda and to Karen, with whom he had two other sons, Timothy and Sean.
Former Dundee District Council leader Ken Fagan, who was first elected the same day as Frank, said: “Frank was a really learned guy, a great colleague, a very affable man and a memorable councillor who was one of the most tolerant people I have ever had the good fortune to meet.
“He is a great loss to humanity.”
Jill Shimi, former administration leader of Dundee City Council added: “Frank was very well read, he was very interested in historical matters and he made a great contribution to the city of Dundee, not least bringing the Discovery back here.”
Richard McCready, secretary of Dundee City Labour Party said: “I was very sorry to hear of the death of Frank Christie. Frank served the city well for more than 20 years as a member of Dundee District Council.
“He was a valued member of the Labour Party. He was a powerful debater and had a wide-ranging knowledge on political, historical and cultural issues.”