Former Helensburgh 'Citizen of the Year' dies aged 69

Trevor McGrath MBE died at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow on Tuesday, July 2.

Mr McGrath was the chairman of the Beacon Trust, which collects unwanted furniture on behalf of the town's churches and delivers it to people in need throughout the Helensburgh area.

The charity had a home on Stuckleckie Road in the Kirkmichael area for 25 years before moving in 2013 to a new base in East Princes Street, where it is still located.

Mr McGrath, also known by his nickname of 'Stomper', served in the Royal Navy for 32 years, most of them spent on board Polaris and Trident submarines.

His charity work was not limited to the Beacon Trust – he was also a long-standing supporter of the Erskine home for former service personnel, and organised teams of serving Navy sailors to walk the West Highland Way and to cycle from Faslane to Thurso for charity.

He was named the Advertiser's Citizen of the Year in 2001 – though he was the last to find out about his award, as he was away at sea when he was chosen as the winner – and was made an MBE in the Queen's Birthday honours list the following year in recognition of his naval service and charity work.

Mr McGrath's funeral will be held at Clydebank Crematorium, North Dalnottar, on Thursday, July 11 at 10.30am.