The Rev Marion Dodd, formerly minister at Kelso Old and Sprouston, died after a short illness, on July 30.

A daughter of the manse, she was ‘just the wee lassie that sang in a family full of musicians’, growing up first in Glasgow with her brothers Ian, Edwin and Neil and then Selkirk. Her father, the Rev Harry Dodd served as a minister and her mother, Ida, was the organist.

Ministry was her third ‘career’ after five years serving as a linguist in the Foreign Office, where she translated Russian and then 17 years as a member of the BBC Singers in London before she explored a call to ministry (encouraged by the Very Rev Fraser McLuskey at London: St Columba’s) which led to her studies at New College in Edinburgh. She was licensed by the presbytery of England in 1987 and served as assistant at Edinburgh: Colinton before her ordination in Edinburgh in 1988.

She was called to Kelso Old and Sprouston in 1989, where she served until retirement in 2010, but remained within the Borders, serving as a locum across the Borders, including Earlston and Oxnam.

Music remained a deep and abiding love and passion and she was part of the group behind the Church of Scotland hymnary CH4, as well as many other committees, including the Life and Work Advisory Committee. She was Musical Director of the Roxburgh Singers for 26 years.

Her many friends and family joined more than 400 people at Melrose Parish Church in August for a service of thanksgiving, led by the Rev Rosie Frew, where Margaret Moyes, a member of the Roxburgh Singers and one of a handful of speakers offering different insights into Marion’s life, said: “Marion’s death is such a loss for us, but such a gain for those heavenly choirs. We will all miss her.”

Lynne McNeil

I first encountered the Rev Tom McDonald when he arrived as locum minister at St Ninian’s, Dunfermline in late 2016. We were in a state of uncertainty following the end of a long ministry, but Tom arrived as a breath of fresh air, conducting lively services and throwing himself into the life of the congregation and its various groups.

Despite the ongoing, serious health problems that had forced his retirement following a 21-year ministry in Kelso North and Ednam, he stayed as locum for over a year, and returned occasionally as needed in the years following.

Born in Dunfermline in 1953, Tom was a teacher for 15 years (latterly head of business and economics at Queen Anne High School) before entering the ministry. He studied at the University of Edinburgh and had a spell as assistant at Melrose Parish Church before being ordained to Kelso North and Ednam, which would prove to be his only charge, in July 1994.

His worship style was high-energy, peppered with jokes, and he rarely missed an opportunity to dress up. A committed ecumenist, he often incorporated elements of worship and music from other Christian traditions into his own services.

A spell volunteering at Dr Graham’s Homes in Kalimpong, India, was a lasting influence and he maintained links with the homes for the rest of his life.

Tom was unmarried but close to his two sisters, Ann and Janice, and their children and grandchildren. He was musical, loved to cook and entertain, and on Saturdays could often be found at East End Park, home of Dunfermline FC.

Tom died on June 9 this year, following many years of poor health. The congregation at his funeral, packed not only into the St Ninian’s sanctuary but also the back hall, and with a group watching online from Kelso, spoke of the affection with which he was held.

Thomas Baldwin