Tributes to former Fife councillor Bill Rodger

Mr Rodger was also the leader of the Labour administration on the former Kirkcaldy District Council in the early 1990s.

As a councillor, he always pledged to look after the interests of the people he represented – and was proud of his “proven record” in doing so. As his son Norie said: “He had a great feeling for the area.”

Buckhaven-born Mr Rodger, who lived in Methil most of his life, worked as a railway fireman, a salesman with Sloan in Kirkcaldy and, for 30 years, with British Gas Scotland, where he became a senior housing development representative. He retired in 1994.

Mr Rodger was first elected as a Labour councillor in 1971 for the old Buckhaven and Methil Town Council and represented Kirkland and Mountfleurie on the old Kirkcaldy District Council after local government reorganisation in 1975. He stepped down around the time of the switch to the single Fife Council in 1996.

Over the years, he was chairman of the policy and resources committee and the licensing board, as well as being a member of the housing, planning economic development and general purposes committees.

He also served as a Justice of the Peace.

Former party colleague and another former Labour leader in Fife, Christine May, served with him from 1988 onwards and said: “He was certainly a very robust colleague. He was never shy to challenge where he felt something was wrong or derved further scrutiny.

“He was assiduous in supporting his local community and ensuring the best possible outcome was achieved for that community.

“He was a loyal member of the group and, like many old-school politicians, once a decision had been taken and a debate held, he would support whatever that decision was.”

Cllr Tom Adams, Levenmouth area committee chairman, added: “He was a very well-loved and respected member of the Labour party from the Levenmouth area. He was chairman and convener of the licensing board, and very well respected for that, as well as being a very well respected councillor. Our thoughts go out to his family.”

Mr Rodger’s funeral is at 1.30pm this Monday, May 16 at Kirkcaldy Crematorium. He is survived by his wife Joan and sons Norie, Michael and Keith.

His family praised the quality of care he had received in his final days at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital.