В Шотландии скончалась активистка за права инвалидов Луиза Смит-Дасар в возрасте 61 года

Tributes have poured in following the sudden death of former Thurso Community Council member and prominent disability rights campaigner Louise Smith-Dasar at the age of 61. Her family described her as an "absolute force of nature" who defied her health conditions to fight tirelessly for local causes. Louise passed away unexpectedly at her home on Friday, leaving her family, friends, and the wider Caithness community in deep shock. Born in Derbyshire on Boxing Day in 1964, she moved up to Caithness when she was around two years old, growing up in the area and attending Miller Academy and Thurso High School. Proving her academic credentials, Louise left the county and had an extraordinary early career as a civil engineer. She qualified as an accredited bridge engineer at just 21. Her work included overseeing a major bridge construction project in Malaysia with a workforce of 500 men, as well as serving as chief engineer on Westminster Bridge in London. After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) – having initially been tested for a brain tumour when her children were young – she relocated to Caithness, where she redirected her formidable drive toward community advocacy, disability access, and local environmental projects. Her son Levent Dasar (29), who is studying for a PhD in mathematics at the University of York, said his mother’s determination never wavered despite her illness. "My mom was an absolute force of nature," Levent said. "I think everybody who knew her would agree she was so invested in a lot of community projects going on in the Highlands because she genuinely cared about that kind of stuff. "She always defied her health condition. She was so brave and bold, and lived with such energy. Even when her health was getting worse, she never gave up. On the record, I want her to be remembered as someone really passionate about community projects, who was a force of nature, and who defied her personal circumstances." Her daughter, Lara Dasar (27), a PhD candidate in medical sciences at the University of Aberdeen, echoed those feelings, describing her mother as “the most intelligent person” she ever knew. "She was extremely strong-willed, very independent, and had a really, really good sense of humour," Lara said. "When she got her disability, it was never an option for her to give in. She continued doing as much as possible – all her work, contributing to anything she could, and helping anyone she could. "Because she was still so full of life mentally, her passing has come as a very big shock to us. We weren't expecting it at all." Her partner, Patrick Doake, described Louise as “the love of my life” and recalled her incredible work ethic and perfectionism in tackling community projects. "Whatever job she took on, funding applications were her speciality, she would get right down to a T – she was a perfectionist," Patrick said. "She was very work-driven and loved being involved in local community projects. She had a good sense of humour, but she could also be very driven and serious." Her passing has sparked widespread sadness across Caithness, where she was well known for her outspoken advocacy on the Caithness Disability Access Panel and her long-standing service on Thurso Community Council. Writing on behalf of Thurso Community Council (TCC), chairman Willie McGillivray posted the following tribute on social media: "I was sad to hear that Louise Smith-Dasar had passed on Friday. She was a stalwart on TCC for many years and her contribution to the community was from the heart. “Sad news indeed; our thoughts are with the family and friends. RIP Louise. You battled adversity and the world is a lesser place without you in it." Fellow local campaigner Iain Gregory also paid tribute, writing under Mr McGillivray’s post: "So very sorry to hear this sad news. Louise was a truly lovely person, and a dear friend to so many of us, as well as being someone who cared deeply for the community and who always put others first. “Kind words, Willie, and I totally agree with you – Louise will be hugely missed by us all." Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.