Perthshire park renamed after judge who led Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry
A Perthshire park is to be renamed after the high court judge who led the public inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie died – aged 94 – in February 2021.
A Blairgowrie park will be renamed after him in recognition of the work he did in the town and in the local community as a whole.
At a Perth and Kinross Council committee meeting this week councillors unanimously honoured a request to change the name of Blairgowrie’s Riverside Park to Sir William Macpherson Park.
The request came from Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council.
Sir William was laird of Newton Castle in Blairgowrie and had lived there since 1936.
He was the chief of Clan Macpherson and one of Scotland’s longer-serving clan chiefs.
Convening Monday’s meeting of Blairgowrie Common Good Fund committee, Conservative Blairgowrie and Glens councillor Bob Brawn said he had “no problem” supporting the request.
He said: “Sir William Macpherson was a great supporter of Blairgowrie and Rattray. He did a lot for the community.”
He told councillors he believed the proposal had maximum support from the community council and others as a way of remembering his contribution to the community.
Cllr Brawn said: “I think this is a fitting tribute to him. I met him once or twice and he was a very pleasant man to talk to and a very nice man.”
Conservative council leader Murray Lyle said: “I wholeheartedly support the change of name given its extensive consultation in the community.”
The proposal was unanimously agreed.