Solicitor on fraud charge

A SOLICITOR has been accused of defrauding a client of almost £5,000.

Ian Davidson, of Clovis Duveau Drive, allegedly committed the offence while working for legal firm W & AS Bruce at their office on Kirkgate, Burntisland, and on Dundee’s Woodside Terrace between July 13 2017 and October 31 2018.

It is alleged Davidson pretended to Pauline Martin that he required additional and unnecessary fees and expenses when dealing with the estate of her late father, Bernard Martin.

The 58-year-old allegedly stated he would pay the proceeds from the estate into the business account of the firm.

Prosecutors allege Davidson induced her to pay £4,739.32 by fraud.

Davidson did not appear at Dundee Sheriff Court to answer the single fraud charge.

Sheriff John Rafferty continued the case without plea until October.

TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of a beloved entertainer who wowed Dundee’s OAPs for decades.

Tessa Rhynd, who was once voted Citizen of the Year, was wellknown across Dundee after devoting her life to performing in care homes, sheltered housing, church clubs and social groups – all for free.

News of her death in Ninewells Hospital aged 80 has been met with sadness by those who knew her best.

Her daughter Shirley Rhynd said: “She was loved by so many people and it was always a joke that if you were walking through the town with mum it would take about five hours, as everyone knew her and stopped to say hi.

“There was no such thing as a quick visit into the town.

“She was so selfless, humble, kind and very caring. She was very loyal and extremely protective of her family and her friends.

“She also had an amazing sense of humour. It is this side of mum I think should be best remembered – she made me smile every single day.”

Anna Easton, who helped Mrs Rhynd perform up until a few years ago when her health began to fail, said that many people in Dundee “would have fond memories” of her friend.

Mrs Rhynd, from Linlathen, once estimated she had entertained at least 10,000 OAPs in the last quarter of the 20th century alone.

Her merchant seaman husband Duncan drowned in 1983 leaving the then-42-year-old with five children aged between 10 and 17.

She took a job at Ninewells but it was to be her volunteering in the hospital for which she would become best known.

She started by visiting elderly patients who did not have any visitors of their own before developing a show in which she would sing hits from yesteryear and tell jokes.

She helped raise money for a wide variety of causes, including organising sold out concerts in Dundee’s Bonar Hall.

The shows included turns from the local stars of the day, including George Duffus, Jimmy Shand and Joe McKay.

In 2000 she was made Dundee’s Citizen of the Year in recognition of her charity work.

Tessa had many strings to her fundraising bow. She put on dog shows and sponsored walks and was pivotal in raising £10,000 in 2001 so five-year disabled girl Kirsty Lee Murdoch could travel to Florida to swim with the dolphins.

She is survived by her sister Maureen, her five children Lynn, Maureen, Andrew, William and Shirley, and three grandchildren.