Former Social Work Chief Dies Of Cancer

A FORMER naval officer who became the social work chief for Moray and Nairn County Council and then for Grampian Region has died of cancer. Fred Edwards was 77.

He died at his home at Ninemileburn, near Penicuik, Midlothian, on Saturday after developing myeloma in 2005. Mr Edwards was born in Liverpool on April 9, 1931, and signed up with the Merchant Navy after leaving school.

He joined the probation service in Liverpool in 1960 and was appointed director of social work for Moray and Nairn in 1969.

Mr Edwards became social work boss for Grampian Regional Council in 1975 after local government reorganisation.

The following year he was appointed director of social work for Strathclyde and led the largest social services department in Europe for 17 years before retiring in 1992. He was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 1992 and was awarded honorary degrees by the Open University and Paisley University.

In retirement, Mr Edwards became an active voluntary worker, serving as chairman of Disability Scotland, Capability Scotland and Link, the forum for Scottish voluntary environmental organisations.

Mr Edwards is survived by his second wife, Mary, and his two sons, David and Mark.