BEWDLEY has lately been paying tribute to a Scotsman who may never have lived in the town and become one of its most prominent citizens had it not been for love.

Jim Murdoch's whirlwind courtship with Bewdley born-and-bred Vera, whom he married 43 years ago, might have had something to do with a romantic ancestry.

His great grandfather was reputed to be one of the teachers who inspired Robbie Burns.

Mr Murdoch, of Telford Drive, met Vera while in the area on a work contract and the wedding was 26 days later.''I was known as the Flying Scotsman,'' he said.

He went on to take on a range of voluntary posts requiring a wide selection of different uniforms, from Scouts and police gear to civic regalia, over the years.

The tributes being paid by the town council this spring are to the man who held the honorary post of Town Constable since the role was recreated 13 years ago. He stepped down in March for health reasons.

While in that ceremonial role he attended 141 town council events, continuing a tradition in Bewdley dating back to before the 15th century.

Mr Murdoch was ideal partly because of his interest in town history. He is a life member of the civic society, a member since 1974 of Bewdley Museum and is now deep into writing a history of Ribbesford Church where he has been church warden.

Also appropriate to a post originally created to enable civic dignitaries to process through town without being attacked by folk with pitchforks was his service in the West Mercia Special Constabulary.

He served from 1955 as a constable to 1980 as chief inspector.

He offered to fill the town constable post when it was restored because he knew the regular police would not take it on and since then has turned out four or five times a year to such events as Mayor Making, St George's Day parades and on Remembrance Sunday.

It was Jim's war experiences which included being taken a prisoner in Rangoon that led him to become a Scout leader. His Scout knowldege of morse code and skill in lighting fires even in monsoon downpours served him well and once saved a life.

He is still president of the Bewdley District Scout Association, having started as a Scout Master in 1947 until becoming District Rover Scout Leader in the 1950s.

Elsewhere, he is known as a founder member of Bewdley TOC H branch, his Christian commitment going back to the 1940s when he was a Sunday School bible class leader.

All this was despite a demanding management job in the sawmills industry.

His only regret is seeing some loss of the community spirit he has cherished so long in Bewdley as it has become a dormitory town for commuters.