The life of environmentalist Simon Pepper will be celebrated at a commemoration event to be held in Aberfeldy on Saturday.

Former WWF Scotland president Simon Pepper to be honoured after sudden death

A commemoration event will be held in Aberfeldy to celebrate the life of environmentalist Simon Pepper.

Mr Pepper died suddenly on Tuesday September 18, aged 70, at his home near Aberfeldy.

The former president of WWF Scotland, he transformed the charity into one of the country’s most influential pressure groups.

A private cremation was held for family members earlier this month but friends and those wishing to celebrate his life can do so at Aberfeldy Town Hall on Saturday at 3pm.

His family said: “Simon was such a vibrant, loving and positive presence in our lives and we are completely devastated that he has now gone.

“Our family have been overwhelmed by such kindness, admiration, love and respect for Simon from many he inspired, encouraged and supported through his life.

“He made the best of every moment to do all he could to make this world a better place.”

During his time with WWF Scotland, Mr Pepper played a significant role in a number of important interventions.

In 2004, he persuaded French industrial firm Lafarge to stop their plans to create a super quarry in a mountain on the isle of Harris.

He was also key in getting Scottish ministers to establish two national parks at Loch Lomond and the Cairngorms in 2002 and 2003, while fighting plans to build a funicular railway on Cairngorm.

Dr Sam Gardner, acting director of WWF Scotland said: “As director of WWF Scotland, which he started in 1985, Simon became a hugely inspirational figure within Scotland’s environment movement and across the wider WWF network.

“He combined a powerful moral authority with a constant drive to build collective action, to bring organisations together and to promote the solutions we must adopt for a fair and sustainable future for all.

“While WWF and the environment sector deeply mourn his passing, Scotland is a better place thanks to Simon.”

Born in Sussex and schooled in Oxfordshire, Mr Pepper studied at Aberdeen University.

He married his wife Morag Hunter Mackenzie in 1973.

Aside from his work with WWF Scotland, he also formed the Scottish Environment Link in 1987 to bring conservation groups together.

He was awarded an OBE in 2008 after serving on eight government agency boards and restoring 22,000 hectares of woodland with his Millennium Forest campaign.

Mr Pepper and his wife raised five children. There are 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He made the best of every moment to do all he could to make this world a better place

Simon Pepper was a key influencer in the creation of two Scottish national parks.