Sad passing of plan man with a passion and vision for Perth

Tributes to Denis Munro following death aged 81

- GORDON BANNERMAN

Warm tributes have been paid to former Perth and Kinross Council director of planning and development Denis Munro, who has died at the age of 81.

His funeral will be held at St John's Kirk in the heart of his beloved Fair City on Monday, June 2 at 1pm.

Born and bred in Perth, Denis recently followed up his 2001 book “A Vision for Perth” with a history of the steamies, or washhouses, which once played an integral role in the lives of working-class families.

He recalled fondly boyhood hours whiled away trainspotting at Friarton, fishing for eels at the harbour - where his father David worked for the Dundee, Perth and London Shipping Company - and helping mother Nan at the public washhouse in Canal Street.

Following several years south of the border Denis embarked on his career as a trainee town planner with Fife County Council in 1961 after leaving Bell-Baxter High School in Cupar. He joined Perth Town Council four years later as an assistant planning officer.

He was recognised by the Town Planning Institute for gaining the top marks in Scotland in their intermediate exams.

Denis remained with the local authority, in its various guises, until taking early retirement in 2003 from the director's role he had held since 1984.

His love of his native city was reflected in “A Vision for Perth” - published while he was planning director - which lamented the loss of various historic buildings in the name of modernism.