Ken Smart

Journalist Born: December 26, 1940; Died: December 17, 2015.

KEN Smart, who has died aged 74, was a well-known figure in Edinburgh, principally as a journalist on the Edinburgh Evening News but also as a much respected member of the Edinburgh High Constables.

He started work on the News (then the Evening Dispatch) after leaving school and, with a few short breaks, spent the rest of his career with the paper. He became an authority on local government and especially the administration of Edinburgh and was held in such esteem that in 1996 he was appointed press officer while Eric Milligan was Lord Provost.

Away from the office, Mr Smart worked tirelessly on behalf of the North Edinburgh charity Pilton Equalities Project (PEP). He was a member of their board for over 15 years where his wise advice and enthusiasm for the project was widely admired by colleagues.

“Ken was always smiling,” Helen Tait, the manager of PEP, told The Herald. “He made everyone in his company smile. Ken was a wonderful man.

“He had a legendary contact book which proved hugely helpful in our fund raising projects. Ken always attended our summer and Christmas parties and greatly added to the occasion. He had a very clear understanding of the purpose of PEP and the services we provide for the community. He always wanted to be involved with the running of PEP and did anything he could to help. He was a real character.”

Kenneth Smart attended Broughton High School and began work on the Evening Dispatch on the copy desk typing out the stories that journalists had telephoned in. After a few years

staff and away, firstly on the Galloway Gazette and then on the Press and Journal in Aberdeen, Mr Smart returned to the capital in 1964 and began work on the Evening News as a general reporter.

He was promoted to deputy news editor but Mr Smart preferred the cut and thrust of reporting. His knowledge of local Edinburgh affairs was soon recognised and he was appointed local government and political editor, covering Lothian Region and Edinburgh District Council. When the two were merged into the City of Edinburgh Council, Mr Smart was much involved and wrote comprehensively about the legal complexities.

In the newsroom, he was generous with his time and advice for newly joined journalists – he was dubbed the Newsroom Uncle. He had a nose for a story and would pursue a lead tenaciously until it was in print. Many of his stories came from readers – many of whom became friends.

Mr Smart was a meticulous journalist who checked his stories and made sure his facts were correct. Such was his reputation he was awarded Reporter of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards in 1982.

Mr Smart had played rugby for Lismore in his youth and remained a keen follower of the national side all his life. He was a keen member of the Edinburgh High Constables and much enjoyed his golf at Kilspindie. He preserved an interest in journalism and contributed to the North Edinburgh Community Newspaper.

Mr Smart married Margot Ainslie in 1972. She and their son survive him.