Carol Paton, leading figure in care sector

A LEADING figure in Scotland’s housing and care sector has lost her battle with cancer at the age of 52.

Tributes were paid yesterday to Dundee-born woman Carol Paton, who was described as being committed to making a real difference to the social well-being of the most vulnerable people in society.

She was the only child of Daisy and Duncan Paton, and attended Dundee High School before moving on to Edinburgh University.

She graduated in 1980 and continued her studies at Nantes University and then returned to Edinburgh to undertake further study at Napier College.

In 1986 she became a trainee with the housing corporation and went on to work for Edinvar and Horizon Housing Associations where she became a passionate advocate of barrierfree housing.

In 1994

she

wa s appointed as director of Lorne Area Housing Association and, after some years, took up a senior post in the regulation arm of Scottish Homes and Communities Scotland.

She returned to Edinvar as deputy managing director but in 2004 she set up her own company, Paton Independent, through which she provided housing and management consultancy services.

Carol trained and quali- fied as a mediator and professional coach and provided mentoring services to fellow professionals.

She was appointed to the board of the Dundee-based Care Commission in 2006 and continued to serve on its successor body, the Care Inspectorate until the month before her death.

She was appointed as a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland in January 2011.

Carol never lost her con- nection with Dundee and continued to travel to the city often to visit her parents and in connection with her professional commitments.

Seven years ago she found the companionship and love of Jim Middleton and they married in August last year.

But the joy of being a newly wed was shattered just one day later when she was diagnosed with cancer.