Tributes to ‘perfect gentleman’
EX-MSP and ’Well director was 87
Tributes were paid to a “perfect gentleman” who was “unique” among Motherwell FC’S support following the death of former director John Swinburne.
Mr Swinburne passed away on Sunday, aged 87.
Although he was a politician and a founder member of the Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party (SSCUP), which saw him elected to the Scottish Parliament as a list MSP in 200307, Mr Swinburne is more strongly associated with the Fir Park club.
Born in Pennsylvania on July 4, 1930, Mr Swinburne was brought up in Motherwell and educated at Dalziel High School. He served several roles at Motherwell FC, including commercial manager, and was a director for 15 years.
Leading the tributes was former Motherwell FC chairman Ian Livingstone CBE, a lifelong friend of Mr Swinburne.
Mr Livingstone, who is a former Lanarkshire Health Board chairman among several other roles, said: “It’s really very sad. John was a true gentleman and I knew him for most of my life because he and his family lived near me and my family, and obviously I knew of his involvement with Motherwell Football Club.
“John was quite unique; he was a lifetime supporter of Motherwell. He worked there on a voluntary basis, was commercial manager and a director, and his period of service is unequalled by anybody.
“Nobody ever had a bad word to say about John. He was totally honest, was totally sincere, and had no hidden agendas – he was as straight as the day is long.
“It’s the passing on of a true supporter, who followed the club through the good times and the bad, and his knowledge of the club was second-to-none. He wrote several books about the club, and there will never be another one