THE funeral of Falkirk Council provost Tom Coleman will take place tomorrow at Falkirk Crematorium.
Councillor Coleman, who was 72, passed away at Forth Valley Royal Hospital on November 30 following a short illness.
First elected in May 1999, he served as an SNP councillor for 18 years, representing the constituents of Larbert and Bonnybridge.
He won each election he contested, increasing his majority every term and earned the respect of constituents from across the political spectrum.
Coleman was appointed convener of the Education and Leisure Committee in 2001 serving in the role until 2007. He was elected Provost of Falkirk in May this year and also held the post of portfolio holder for Economic Development.
He also chaired the Common Good Funds of Bo’ness, Denny, Dunipace, Falkirk and Grangemouth and was instrumental in bringing the Mod to Falkirk in 2008.
Concern about the use of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes to fund new schools rekindled Coleman’s interest in local politics in the late 1990s.
He devised a not-for-profit alternative to PFI funding and oversaw the funding for four new schools in Falkirk District using the not-for-profit distribution model.
A firm believer in education, he was also dedicated to improving teaching standards in Falkirk District and worked to raise the quality of and access to healthy school meals.
Provost Coleman was married to Irene and had three grown up children.
He was a graduate in history from Stirling University and before entering politics his career was in the financial services sector.
The funeral will take place from 3:15 pm.
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