Philanthropic family suffers second tragedy
Charitable entrepreneur dies on volunteer mission
A WELL-KNOWN family famous for their business interests and philanthropy has been hit by the second tragedy in just over two years.
Ecological entrepreneur Iver Salvesen – part of the Salvesen shipping dynasty – died suddenly while volunteering for a charity in Tanzania.
He had just returned from an early morning jog with a group of fellow volunteers when he suddenly collapsed and died on the way to hospital.
The 47-year-old, who was married with three children, was the great-great grandson of the founder of Christian Salvesen, the transport and logistics firm.
Another great-great-grandson, Jeremy Salvesen, died in April 2014 at the age of 51 in a skiing accident in the French Alps.
Iver Salvesen was on his first ever expedition with the Edinburgh-based The Vine Trust helping to construct homes for orphan children in the Moshi district of the African country.
Vine Trust chief executive Willie McPherson said the charity was shocked at his passing describing Mr Salvesen as a “super fellow who was always keen to help”.
He said: “While participating in a Vine Trust expedition to construct homes for orphan children in the Moshi district of Tanzania, Iver tragically took ill and died after an early morning jog with fellow volunteers on Monday, July 11.
“Iver with his background in construction and ecological techniques was part of the Trust’s 100 homes programme and was keen to bring his expertise to hand to make it as successful as possible.”
He added: “It is an absolute tragedy and we are all shocked by the tragic events.”
Mr Salvesen was the son of Major Robin and his wife Sari.
He ran an ecological construction business, Ecofitter, and hit the headlines three years ago when he built Scotland’s first straw house for one of his workers at his 600-acre Muirhouse Farm near Stow, Selkirkshire, where he lived with his American wife Wendy and three children.
Ecofitter, the firm which he set up, published a short statement on its website, stating: “Very suddenly, while carrying out voluntary work in Tanzania, Iver Salvesen – the heart of Ecofitter – passed away. He will be sadly missed by many.”
A memorial service for Mr Salvesen will take place at St Mary’s Parish Church in Haddington, East Lothian, next Friday.
Donations from the service will go to The Vine Trust, which has already set up a fundraising page in memory of Mr Salvesen.
Mr Salvesen had been updating his friends on his travels in Tanzania through his social media pages.
On his Facebook page, one friend wrote: “I can’t believe you’ve gone.
“You had the biggest heart, and a most generous disposition. You leave a hole in our hearts.”
Another wrote: “Too soon Iver, way too soon. There was so much more fun to be had.
“You were kind, fun, generous and loyal to the nth degree.
“God, you will be missed. God bless, sleep well. A sad, sad, horrid day.” SKYE Galloway, 17, and Thais Ramdani, 19, are joined by Blythe Duff as the Scottish Youth Theatre marks its 40th anniversary with a production of The Tempest.
The Shakespearean play is being taken back into the 1980s with new setting and costumes.
The SYT production, adapted and directed by Mary McCluskey, runs from August 2 to 6.
Duff, patron of the theatre, said: “I’d like to congratulate Scottish Youth Theatre on its milestone 40th anniversary. I’ve been involved in 35 of those 40 years. It’s a special part of my life.” Picture: Colin Mearns