The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Talented social worker saved drowning man’s life
A visionary social worker who transformed care in Aberdeen has died at the age of 68.
Peter Cassidy was so committed to helping those with alcohol problems that local politicians thought he was a prohibitionist.
He spent crucial years of his career in the north-east where he also worked to help children in care and assisted many people with learning difficulties.
The Dundee-born man was educated at Lawside Academy and in 1967 became the first person in his family to go to university when he studied psychology in Edinburgh.
That year was a miraculous one for him for other reasons too.
He saved a man who was drowning in the River Tay and was given a Royal Humane Society award for his efforts.
As well as this, his beloved Celtic reached the final of the European Cup and he hitch-hiked 1,800 miles with his friend Tommy Campbell to Lisbon to see them win.
His career in the care industry began once he finished university and took up a role as a social worker in Leith.
He later relocated to Midlothian where he met his wife, Trish Oddy.
The pair married in 1984 and had three daughters – Laura, Sarah and Rose.
After spells in Fife and West Lothian, Mr Cassidy ventured to Aberdeen to become head of social care in the city.
During his eight years in the role, he canvassed the public to find out their views on social work, appointed a full-time children’s rights officer for children in care and helped those with learning difficulties to gain extra assistance if they came to be interviewed by the police.
And, although he was thought to be a prohibitionist due to his commitment to helping those with drink problems, he managed to assure local politicians that he did enjoy a drink or two himself.
His time in the job was cut short by the death of his beloved wife in 2001 at the age of 52.
Following this, he set up a consultancy, allowing him to spend more time with his daughters who are all now working in the care sector.
Mr Cassidy is also survived by two grandchildren – Cormac and Miriam.
He died in Edinburgh after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years ago and is buried in Banchory next to his wife.
Dennis Mooney, a close friend whom he met through work in the 1970s, paid tribute.
He said: “Peter was first and foremost a devoted family man, a committed husband and father to his three children.
“He was also great company; he was very sociable and he was interesting and interested.
“He would always make the effort to keep in touch with you, sometimes you would get a postcard from some remote part of the world from him.
“He was also endlessly curious. He never stopped wanting to learn and wanted to find out what people were doing and why they were doing it.”