Ушел из жизни основатель туристического агентства Discover Dunfermline и известный местный историк Джек Прайд

TRIBUTES have been paid to a local historian and the founder of Discover Dunfermline Tours who dedicated his life to sharing stories about the city. Jack Pryde, 79, was surrounded by his family when he passed away in the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy on Sunday, August 16 after a short illness. He was a devoted husband to Catherine, as well as a much-loved father and grandfather. The historian, who previously worked for Dunfermline Building Society, helped establish the New Year Heritage Walk in the mid 1980s, a popular walk which drew in up to 200 participants per year. It ran for decades before the final walk took place in January 2020, just before the pandemic. Bill Livingstone, who co-promoted the event as a former Carnegie Dunfermline Trust chairman and convener of the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum, remembers the annual walk fondly. He said: "Every day was a school day; we got visitors from all over the place. We promoted Dunfermline, letting people know more. We pointed things out that people had never noticed before, like the carvings on the City Chambers. "From that, Jack developed his own business taking tourists around Dunfermline. He was very interested in local history and an approachable person. "He had his own ideas about things as we all do. We all had a skeleton script, but you added on your own things, and Jack would do that; he had his own tales about Dunfermline. “Jack’s organising role was recognised on the walk’s 30th anniversary when he and Bert McEwan cut a commemorative cake as the two founder members of the heritage guide corps still on active service three decades on.” In establishing his own business, Discover Dunfermline Tours, started in 2011, he was able to share his special knowledge and had a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor. Walkers praised him for "bits not to be found in the guidebooks" and making the city "come alive" through his stories. Billy George from Visit Dunfermline said: "Jack’s knowledge, generosity and enthusiasm for sharing Dunfermline’s remarkable story made a real difference to countless residents and visitors alike. "He was a valued supporter of what we are trying to achieve at Visit Dunfermline: celebrating our heritage, building civic pride and helping more people discover all that Scotland’s ancient capital has to offer. "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jack - a proud Dunfermline man, a passionate local historian, and a wonderful ambassador for our city. "His love for Dunfermline will continue to be felt in the stories he told and the people he inspired." Donald MacKenzie, from the Dunfermline and West Fife Local Tourist Association, said: "I knew him personally through several different groups over the years, but recently mainly through the Dunfermline and West Fife Local Tourism Association. "He was a regular attendee at our meetings and was always happy to share his thoughts and ideas around promoting Dunfermline; after all, he did take the moniker, Mr Dunfermline. "He 'retired' from his walking tours recently, and he was missed at our meetings. On behalf of the LTA, RIP, and our thoughts are with the family." The funeral will take place at Dunfermline Crematorium on Tuesday, September 8 at 2pm.