Industrial chemist and campaigner for independence; Born July 2, 1912 Died January 26, 2007 Through his involvement in local government and the Saltire Society, Douglas Kerr inspired many to pursue his own passion to further Scotland's nationhood and cultural heritage.

Born in Dalkeith in 1912, the second of five boys in a family of Church of Scotland ministers and lawyers, Douglas excelled at Merchiston Castle School and gained a First in Chemistry at Edinburgh University. Thwarted from postgraduate studies by the Depression, he pursued a lifelong career in industrial chemistry, first at Lever Brothers in Port Sunlight, Wirral, then with the MoD during the war. He returned to Scotland in 1949 to work at the British Aluminium plant in Burntisland.

From then on, he devoted as much energy to the Scottish "cause" as to his work, through the Covenant Association, the Saltire Society, the SNP, the Scottish Socialist Society and the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly.

Had it not been for the death of his wife, Margaret Cunningham, early in their marriage, which left him a single parent to their two children, he may have played a greater part in Scottish public life. As it was, he continued to champion his causes, often employing methods that were ahead of their time and which we would now call "networking", "grass-roots activism" and "non-violent direct action". In all his areas of interest, his naturally inquiring mind and scientific training led him constantly to approach issues from first principles, never being afraid to challenge accepted wisdom and to ask awkward questions.

Douglas's work for Scotland followed two complementary strands, both of which he saw as essential. First, the need to fashion a Scottish cultural identity, based on its rich inheritance (particularly important at a time when it was too easily dismissed or devalued) and which celebrated the best in Scottish traditions of art, architecture, music and literature, while nurturing the emergence of a contemporary culture. Secondly, the need to create the political will and structures to put Scotland's interests to the fore and able to meet the needs of its people.

Douglas found the first ideal espoused by the Saltire Society and he played an active part in many of its campaigns to save important Scottish buildings, including Rossend Castle, Burntisland, where Mary Queen of Scots had stayed.

He was president of the South Fife branch of the society and established his own Scots verse competition for Burntisland primary school children. He was a kenspeckle figure at Saltire award ceremonies and other events throughout the country until his final illness. In 1999 he was awarded honorary membership of the society in recognition of his support for more than 50 years.

Douglas was an active member of SNP and was elected SNP councillor for Burntisland between 1977 and 1984. He lobbied for an integrated public transport system, again a visionary in recognising the unsustainability of car dependence.

He was instrumental in mobilising support to establish Burntisland Community Council, and later became a member of neighbouring Kinghorn Community Council, a position he held until the age of 93.

He believed local politics was missing its primary purpose - serving the community - if used merely as a sounding box for party politics.

Many will have felt their lives made easier by his kindness in difficult situations. In his political work, Douglas treated people and institutions with honesty and integrity and expected the same in return. He paved the way for future generations, generously sharing his wisdom and experience and acting as a mentor to many who followed him.

He was always a "gradualist", believing that changes would happen when the right conditions were created. This led to disagreement with elements in the SNP who believed in "independence, nothing else". Douglas was a stalwart of the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly and his pride at seeing the inauguration of the Scottish Parliament in 2001 was echoed a year later when Sheena Wellington performed the same A man's a man for a' that at his 90th birthday party in Rossend Castle.

In addition to championing these causes, Douglas supported Scottish CND, Scotland's for Peace, Scottish Association for Public Transport, Friends of the Earth Scotland and continued to attend rallies and take his turn street leafleting to within a year of his death. In the days before his brief, final illness he applied to join Amnesty International.

In his leisure time, Douglas enjoyed trips to French Catalonia, referring to himself as a "Catalan du nord" (a northern Catalan), and seeing similarities with Scotland in its struggle for independence. Douglas also had a passion for gardening, having an almost uncanny ability to coax tiny cuttings into life; many gardens are the richer for his gifts.

While born into relative prosperity, he could relate to people from all walks of life, borne out of a belief in the value of every individual and the desire described by Burns "That man to man, the world o'er, shall brithers be for a' that".

Those who knew him will miss his courteous, gentlemanly manner, his keen sense of fun and his steely resolve to make Scotland a country to be proud of.

He is survived by his children, Margaret and Gifford, and three grandchildren.