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- 13.1.1998
The Sunday Herald
David Aitchison MBE, former chief executive, Scottish Fishermen's Federation; born January 12, 1922, died January 7, 1998
The fishing industry and the town of Eyemouth lost a great champion with the death, at the age of 75, of David Aitchison. He was chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation from 1976 until 1982 during a time of crucial negotiations over the Common Fisheries Policy.
An agreement had been ''cobbled together'' with Britain's European partners in 1973, but it was widely regarded as unsatisfactory, and negotiations to produce a new deal took place towards the end of the 1970s and into the early 1980s.
Aitchison was at the forefront of the SFF's lobbying and campaigning at this time, making frequent trips both to London and to Brussels to represent the interests of Scottish fishermen, and he gained a reputation both for his tenacity and his expertise.
David Gear Aitchison was born in West Lothian and educated at Airdrie Academy and Glasgow University, where he studied classics and obtained an MA Hons.
He had a distinguished military record. Called up in 1941, he was recruited into the Cameronians but was soon selected for officer training at Sandhurst. He passed out as the best cadet among 700 and was awarded the college's ultimate accolade, the Sword of Honour and the Sam Browne Belt.
Seconded to the regiment of his choice, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, he saw action at the Battle of the Bulge and, after the Rhine crossing, was briefly promoted in the field to acting major.
After the war, armed with his degree, he took up a teaching appointment at Eyemouth High School and, with the blessing of the then headmaster, spent a month at Leith Nautical College to study the teaching of navigation.
On his return to the school, navigation as a special subject became part of the school curriculum for pupils wishing to pursue a maritime career. Aitchison also instituted night classes in the subject for mature fishermen wishing to further their careers in the industry.
He was appointed to the board of examiners of navigation in Scotland, and set the examination papers. He formed the Eyemouth Sea Cadets and was appointed to the Eyemouth Harbour Trust Board and to the committee of the Eyemouth lifeboat.
After leaving the SFF, Aitchison returned to part-time teaching in the classics until 1987, when he retired at the age of 65. He was awarded the MBE in 1986.
He served on the Scottish Borders Council from 1996 onwards, having previously been a member of Berwickshire District Council and Eyemouth Town Council.
For many years he served as secretary of the Eyemouth Fishermen's Association, during which time he was a founder member of the Fishermen's Benevolent Society.
David Aitchison is survived by his wife, Effie, two daughters, a son, eight grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.
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1922 - 1998 (75 years)
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