Farewell to a man who built bridges
Hamish Hutchinson • Published 7 Sep 2012 09:15
4 Comments
EDDIE Carrick, the ex-councillor who battled with cancer for more than two years, has died.
The 66-year-old passed away at his Woodlea Park home in Sauchie on Thursday surrounded by his family.
Eddie had been diagnosed with terminal cancer in May 2010 after it was discovered in his lungs.
Doctors gave him only a year to live, yet the Glasgow-born politician survived for a further year and even stood at May's local government elections.
His wife Valerie (61) said it was his "determination" that kept him going in spite of the illness.
She said, "He would have chemotherapy on the Friday and would be back at work on Monday. Sometimes he pushed it so much he was felled for two days. He felt he could overcome anything.
"He wanted to be at home when it happened. It was peaceful at the end."
Eddie will be remembered as promoting the county as a tourist destination, overseeing the re-introduction of trains to Alloa and the regeneration of the town centre.
Speaking to the Advertiser after he missed out on re-election this year, he said leading the Clackmannanshire Bridge naming campaign was one of the proudest moments of his political career.
Valerie went on, "If he got the bit between his teeth, nine out of 10 times he got what he wanted. He wanted to use the power he had to help people.
"Even though he wasn't from this area originally, this became his home."
Born in Maryhill, Eddie took his first steps into politics when he was a Labour councillor in Fallin in 1984.
He took an extended hiatus from frontline politics during the 1990s and did not become a councillor again until 2003, a year after he married Valerie and moved to Sauchie, when he stood for Clackmannanshire Council.
That was the start of two consecutive terms in office as part of the Labour administration - re-elected in 2007.
He held the post of Portfolio holder for Sustainability, among many positions over a long and distinguished political career.
However last year Eddie sensationally quit the Labour party - of which he had been a member for 36 years - when he was not selected to stand at the 2012 local government elections.
The acrimonious split saw him become an independent councillor and vote with the SNP group to oust Labour from office.
The then-Labour leader Rev Sam Ovens expressed his disappointment at the decision by his former colleague. This week Sam paid tribute to his "passionate" ex-colleague, whom was "never seen as an enemy".
He said, "What he did in Clackmannanshire was to promote the welfare of the community. He was very passionate about the local authority.
"He was hard to deal with sometimes as he was focused on his portfolio, but in a good way. His strength was to challenge you to think about the bigger picture.
"He had been ill for a long time and it was difficult for his family to see him go down hill and I regret he left the Labour movement."
Former First Minister Jack McConnell led further tributes to Eddie.
He tweeted, "Absolutely gutted. My dear friend Eddie Carrick, former Stirling councillor, has died. He never forgot who he was fighting for."
Clackmannanshire Council leader Gary Womersley said, "I very much enjoyed my all too brief period of working with Eddie, whose commitment to the area never faltered despite the challenges he faced through illness.
"I am pleased that in his last term as councillor, Eddie accepted the role of Depute Provost, a role which meant a lot to Eddie, which I feel in small part tried to recognise Eddie's contribution to the area over the years. As with everyone who knew Eddie, my thoughts and regards go out to his
family."
The funeral will take place at Our Lady & St Ninian's RC Church today (Friday, 7 September) at 10am and thereafter to Bannockburn Cemetery.
Donations to be made in lieu of flowers to Marie Curie for the support given to Eddie and his family.
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 05 Sep 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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AlloaYankee
Unregistered User
Sep 7, 21:40
Report commentAn excellent politician.
Although I disagreed with Mr. Carricks political ideals, I respected him, very much, for the way in which he stood by his principles often in the face of adversity. The people of The Wee County should raise a monument to him for what he achieved in his short time in the county.
RIP
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charlotte
Unregistered User
Sep 22, 11:03
Report commentEddie was indeed a man who wasn't afraid to stand by his principles. A testament to this was seen at his funeral when those more principled people were among the mourners, people like Jack McConnell who despite his fall from grace as our first minister, put party politics aside to show his respect for Eddie. Unlike some of Eddies former "Colleagues" such as our esteemed ex-provost Derek Stewart & gracious ex-council leader Janet Cadenhead who didn't have the common decency to bother!! Of course, Ms Cadenhead was probably away being measurde for her annual coat of teflon!!
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Eckydoo
Unregistered User
Oct 21, 11:58
Report commentWhat a pity Eddie isn't around to see the shenanigans of his former colleagues! It's also a pity the Advertiser is stopping people from commenting on articles that appear in the paper, I am referring to last weeks censure of the former Social Work portfolio holder councillor Cadenhead. Charlotte's remark about Graciousness and Teflon appear to be somewhat misplaced now!!
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New Him
Unregistered User
Nov 8, 23:08
Report commentNew Eddie in the 80s, heard about in the 90s. Eddie had a lot of things in his life. Did you know he was a shopkeeper in Scotland? I knew him as Goverment man working in London.
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