The passing of Mr Len Woods

I was very saddened to learn of the death of Dunfermline-born Mr Len Woods in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Saturday 24^th August 2013.  Len had not been in the best of health for some time, but his death still came as a shock. 

Len was a popular and well-kent man throughout west Fife and elsewhere in Scotland. He attended Dunfermline High School in the 1950s and still maintained many friendships in and around Dunfermline from those days.  His early working life in textile sales led to his recent consulting activities within his own company, which took him all over Scotland, England, Ireland and abroad.  He formed many lasting business and personal relationships wherever he went.  He met his wife, Elma, at school when they were both 14 and they married in 1967.  They had two sons, Gavin and Callum, and lived in Saline for many years.

A vigorous local campaigner, Len responded to the previous Labour-led Scottish Government’s “Right for Fife” by founding the pressure group “Action for Patients” to protect the Queen Margaret Hospital and the general health interests of west Fifers.  His tireless work with other hospital and health campaigners led him to become my predecessor SNP candidate for the Dunfermline seat at the 2007 Scottish Parliamentary elections.  This is when I got to know the commitment and effort that Len put into any cause in which he believed.

He was very fond of recalling how, as a young athlete, he triumphed over Ming Campbell in a sprint race. However, his most widely known activity was perhaps his leadership of the reformed “Travelling People” Folk Group, a traditional band with a 40-year-plus history. As vocalist and storyteller, his most recent appearance was a St Andrew’s Night concert at Dunfermline Golf Club earlier this year.

Len was a larger than life personality, and I am sure that memories of him will live on for many years.  He will be sadly missed.