Good work inspired by singer’s tragedy

Mr Fair set up the Havilah project in Arbroath in 2006 to provide a safe haven for addicts, with paid staff and volunteers helping around 1,000 people to date.

He oversaw the rollout of three services delivered by Havilah earlier this year after the singer of one of his favourite bands took his own life and he decided he could no longer stand by and do nothing.

The introduction of a community choir, a therapeutic garden and a drop-in service were put in place after Mr Fair was left “devastated” following the death of Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchinson in May last year.

Mr Fair said: “Suicide is a horrendous endemic problem and we decided, as a church, that we had to do something.

“I have buried too many people who have taken their own lives over the years because they felt alone and helpless in the darkness which many think is their only friend.

“I am a big fan of Frightened Rabbit and was absolutely devastated by Scott’s death. When his body was found something snapped within me and I decided that I could not go on merely saying ‘isn’t it terrible’ every time someone took their own life.”

He said faith groups and other bodies have an “obligation” to fill gaps in public provision because the level of statutory support for drug addiction and mental health in Scotland is “desperately short” of what is needed”.

He said too many vulnerable people were being failed and politicians must redouble their efforts to address the crisis.

“My favourite Frightened Rabbit song is Living In Colour which is a brilliant anthem and a metaphor for what is possible in life.

“For me, that is what Jesus meant when he said ‘you can have life in all its fullness’.”