Tributes have this week been paid to a well-known Burnham-On-Sea resident who has passed away after a short illness.
Hugh Mackay, pictured above on the right, was keenly interested in education and social work and was a prominent local figure. He passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, on Tuesday 9th July.
Hugh was born and grew up in Kent and became a Chartered Civil Engineer, working for eight local authorities in Kent, East Sussex, South Glamorgan, Hertfordshire and Surrey over a 29-year period. In 1994 he became a self-employed technical adviser for outsourcing services to local authorities.
His late wife taught at St. Christopher’s School, and they moved to Burnham-On-Sea in 1994. Hugh served as a magistrate from 2005-12 and on the North Sedgemoor Childrens’ Advisory Board from 2009-15; he was also a non-executive director of Homes In Sedgemoor Ltd and a trustee of the charity Benchmark.
He served on the governing bodies of King Alfred School, which he chaired, and also Pawlett, East Brent and Brent Knoll Schools. Joining the Rotary Club of Burnham-On-Sea in 2008, he was President for the year 2012-13.
Hugh is survived by his two daughters Lorna and Fiona and their families, one in England and one in Australia, whom he used to visit regularly.
Neville Coles from King Alfred School Academy said: “Hugh was a first class Chair of Governors at The King Alfred School. He was dedicated to the school, the staff and the students. He was a firm believer in the school as the heart of our community. Our flags have flown at half mast in his honour. A great man with high principles and a pleasure to work with. Our thoughts are with his family.”
Chis Burman, head teacher at Brent Knoll School, adds: “Hugh was a loyal and hard-working member of our school’s governing body for many years, dedicating a huge amount of his time freely to ensure the school was as good as it could be.”
“It should be added that Hugh not only supported the school in the years following his retirement from engineering, but he was truly a community minded person. His work included being a magistrate, a member of the Rotary club, a supporter of the parish churches and fundraiser for East Brent Village Hall. Hugh will be very much missed and our condolences go to his family.”
Hugh‘s funeral is at 5pm on Monday July 22nd at Sedgemoor Crematorium. Family flowers only but donations will be received to Kidney Cancer UK, Cancer Research UK or Burnham Rotary Club.
