An Appreciation

Born: March 22, 1938;

April 8, 2015.

With the death of Caroline Cuthbert, who has died aged 77, the West of Scotland has lost a generous benefactor, a recycler ahead of her time and a quiet inspiration in the community.

She was born in Edinburgh, the second of the four children of Alec Mitchell, a coal mine owner in central Scotland, and his wife Rosemary.

She was educated in Edinburgh, Bermuda and Hertfordshire but gained much childhood pleasure with her Mitchell grandmother at Tulliallan Castle, Clackmannan, at that time a family house. At Edinburgh College of Domestic Science she learned how to cook with ease for two or 200, indoors or out, and her imaginative creativity was established.

After marriage in 1960 to William Cuthbert of the Clyde Shipping Company, she revelled in motherhood and in doing charitable works, using skills first gained as a head girl at Downham to lead by example in getting the best out of people and helping them find skills of which they were unaware. In the 1970s she created Take'n Give, a charity which cleared houses, recycled the contents and sold them on, raising thousands of pounds for Camphill Newton Dee

She used her home, Old Ballikinrain near Balfron, to hold many fund-raising events and she never had any difficulty in attracting helpers prepared to dress as Victorian maids or man the stalls, contribute display items or bake, as she always made it fun.

Endrick Valley Riding for the Disabled Group was established at the house and met weekly while for many years the WRVS held a summer camp in Killearn for disabled children, with riding at Old Ballikinrain a vital part of the programme. She was also always very supportive of her husband in his role of chairman of the National Trust for Scotland.

After William's early death in 1989 she continued to use her creative skills to raise money for local charities, especially Crossroads and Killearn Kirk Guild.

She was on the board of visitors to Cornton Vale prison under the governorship of Lady Martha Bruce, a trustee of the MacRobert Trust from 1997-2008, a deputy lieutenant for Stirlingshire and for five years the regional organiser of the WRVS. In each of the roles her ability to encourage and value people was paramount.

She was a supporter of the Iona Community and of the Findhorn Community through which she developed her interest in organic gardening. She became an enthusiastic circle dancer, qualifying as an instructor.

Her love of the countryside led her to create an eco house using her own green oak, wool insulation and straw bales and a wormery cesspit to minimise environmental impact - all now considered quite usual.

She leaves three children and nine grandchildren to whom she was devoted, and many friends who will remember her and smile.

KIRSTY CUTHBERT