The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Eric Milton, minister with a love of the sea, aged 93
Eric Milton, a minister and naval architect who worked to preserve the historic frigate Unicorn, has died aged 93.
He began his working life as draughtsman at Dundee’s Caledon shipyard before qualifying as a naval architect.
In 1960 he felt called to the ministry, studied at St Andrews University and went on to serve parishes in Aberdeenshire, Perthshire, Glasgow and Jersey.
His later years were spent in Carnoustie where he was heavily involved in community organisations including the Probus club.
Eric was born in Dundee and educated at Rockwell Primary School, Eastern Primary in Broughty Ferry and then Grove Academy.
It was at secondary school that he met his future wife, Sheila, who was in the year above.
Eric’s ambition to join the Royal Navy was thwarted by a knee condition so he joined the Caledon shipyard staff.
After four years he enrolled at Dundee Teacher Training College and went on to teach at Stobswell Boys’ Junior Secondary School in the city.
In 1952, Eric and Sheila married at St Aidan’s Church in Broughty Ferry and he then moved to lecture in naval architecture at the naval technical college in Rosyth.
While he was there he qualified as an associate member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.
In 1960, after their daughter Claire was born, Eric began to study for the ministry. After three years he was ordained just after son Graeme was born.
Over the years he served parishes at New Pitsligo; Battlefield East in Glasgow; St Columba’s Jersey; Blairdaff linked with Chapel of Garioch.
He also served as chaplain to Queen Victoria School, Dunblane.
While in Glasgow, Eric was elected an associate member of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland.
From 1968 until 1983 he served as chaplain in the Royal Naval Reserve at HMS Graham, Clyde division, and was awarded the Queen’s Medal, reserve decoration, in 1983.
In 1994 he was appointed area chaplain to the Sea Cadet Corps in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England.
Eric served as chaplain of the Dundee unit when he and Sheila moved to Carnoustie.
As a young man he was a member of the Scouts and enjoyed playing tennis, refereeing hockey, sailing and model boat sailing.
Eric was past commodore of the Tay Corinthians Boat Club, past commodore of Carnoustie Sailing Club and a long-time member of the Royal Naval Sailing Association.
He had been a Rotary member for 20 years before his retiral to Carnoustie where he joined the Probus Club and served a period as president.
Eric was a past chairman of Friends of Frigate Unicorn and a governor of the Unicorn Preservation Society.
He was also chaplain to HM Frigate Unicorn.