COWDENBEATH councillor Peter Lockhart has paid tribute to his father David, a well-loved figure in the community who sadly passed away just before New Year.

Born in Leven on 4th November 1922, David Lockhart came from a mining background and went to Crossgates Primary School before going to Beath High School. He later returned to education as a teacher, and taught in Ballingry from 1950 until around 1986 when the new Lochgelly High School opened and he retired. One of the most popular teachers, he used to draw pictures for the children and lots of the sketches he did are still hanging in homes around the area.

“Folk still say they remember my dad,” said Peter. “I can’t get on a bus without getting regaled with stories about him in the school, how he used to play the fiddle for the kids in class if they’d be good. He showed them drawings he had done and would draw for them too.” Well-known for his painting, David had exhibits all over the country but his treasured works are also deeply ingrained in the community with a large mural, now a listed painting, in Benarty Primary School called ‘Many Mansions,’ based on the biblical passage of John 14:2. He also produced a commemorative panel for the Mossmorran Disaster in Cowdenbeath Town House (above) and his sketches can be found in the homes of residents all over Ballingry. Painting was David’s main passion, and he was a member of the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour. For a time, he was also chair of the hanging committee for the annual exhibition at the National Gallery in Edinburgh.

A keen fiddler as well as an artist, David played with a band called Heritage and produced two LPs as well as travelling all over Europe, becoming well-known in the folk scene around Scotland and the UK.

Like his son would grow up to be, David also held a keen interest in politics and was involved in the Communist Party before joining the Labour Party in 1979, remaining a member until his death. David was quite active locally, which had an effect on Peter.

“He influenced me getting into the same thing,” Peter said. “We used to go on long walks and he would talk about politics. He was always interested in the local history of Cowdenbeath and on our walks he would talk about the mines. He knew a lot and was always proud of his mining heritage.” His love for his children even extended to taking them to watch his beloved Cowdenbeath’s Fife rivals.

“He was actually a Cowdenbeath fan,” admitted Peter. “But when we lived in Dunfermline he took us to East End Park, which must have killed him! But he was a great believer in supporting your local team.” David passed away aged 92 on Monday 29th December. His funeral was held last Tuesday at the Kelty Kirk, where hundreds of people turned out to pay their respect.

“It was a big turnout,” said Peter. I was kind of stunned when I saw so many people from all over Scotland.

“He loved Cowdenbeath. Like they say, you can take the man out of Cowdenbeath, but Cowdenbeath was his town.” David is survived by wife Jean, who lives in Kelty, his three children Mary, Peter and Jean, a daughter-in-law and son-in-law, as well as three grandchildren, and one great grandchild.