Brian came into a career in Trading Standards with Humberside Council after studying at Salford University and a short period working in London. On qualifying as a Trading Standards Officer, Brian continued to work for Humberside then moved to the Shetlands and on to Pembrokeshire. Brian finally settled in Angus 20 years ago with his wife Bev and their children Tom and Frances.
Brian was an extremely enthusiastic officer who fought hard to protect consumers, particularly the vulnerable in society. In doing so Brian would always see the possibilities of applying Trading Standards powers to carry out innovative protective work.
Around 2005, Brian started the Angus Doorstoppers project and more recently was instrumental in starting the Angus Reputable Traders Scheme (ARTS) and joint adult protection work. Brian was one of the first to see the value of installing call blockers to protect against scammers. It is a testament to his foresight that all of these initiatives are still running today.
A recent report commissioned by the Scottish Government on the Effectiveness of Actions to Reduce Harm from Nuisance Calls in Scotland was dedicated to the memory of Brian who fought valiantly against nuisance calls and supported the commissioning and carrying out of this study.
As a CTSI lead officer for crime and disorder Brian continued to fight for the vulnerable in society by representing his profession with considerable passion and expertise.
Sadly, Brian did all of this work often in poor health unaware of its high value and his untimely death leaves a vacuum that may never be filled in Trading Standards in Angus and nationally. His colleagues and friends donated towards a piece of woodland in Brian’s memory at Backmuir Wood, Muirhead through the Woodland Trust as a fitting memorial for his friends and family to visit.
