Born in May 1953, Aileen attended Ancrum Road Primary School before enrolling at the High School of Dundee. She went on to study her LLB law degree at the University of Edinburgh from 1970 until 1974, graduating with a first. She completed her traineeship with Dundee City Council, qualifying as a Solicitor in 1976.
Aileen was the Principal Solicitor for Dundee City Council and was heavily involved with the city’s early waterfront regeneration. Additionally, she was responsible for the burial of Dundee’s destitute dead and would actively go to great lengths to find out their faith to ensure they received the appropriate funeral.
As well as this, Aileen was involved in the complex land acquisition issues at Dundee Waterfront and became an expert in deciphering historical title deeds of the new area. Her hard work laid the groundwork for the current redevelopment, including that of the V&A.
In 1980, Aileen married Douglas and the pair went on to have two daughters together – Katherine and May.
In her early 50s, Aileen was diagnosed as having early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and so took early retirement. As she adapted to her condition, she became involved with a local Alzheimer’s group,
attending art classes and various outings.
As her condition progressed, Aileen required full-time care, which was provided by Tigh Na Muirn care home in Monifieth, where she lived for the last seven-and-a-half years.
In July 2021, at the age of 68, Aileen sadly passed away. Her daughter Katherine, who is also a Solicitor, recalls “Mum was a great lover of the arts, music, history and enjoyed curling”.
A JustGiving page was set up in Aileen’s memory to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland.
Obituary sourced from Scottish Legal News, 6th July 2021.
