Tributes have been paid to Gordon Hall, who sailed the world as a deep sea trawlerman and enjoyed a host of other jobs closer to home.
Mr Hall died suddenly at his home in Muirpark Grove, Tranent, on November 14.
He was born in Ferrier Street,
Leith, on October 30, 1947 to the late William, a whisky cooper, and Wynn, now 83.
In the 1950s the family moved to the Drylaw area of Edinburgh where his mother and brother, Stephen, 63, live to this day.
Mr Hall grew up with Stephen, half-brother Billy, 76, and younger sisters Val Erwin, 58, and Lorraine Bowen, 50. He was educated at the former Ainslie Park High School in Pilton.
As money was tight Mr Hall was soon helping to support himself and his family by doing paper rounds, working in a bakery and delivering milk.
His strong work ethic led him to sign up at Salvesen's office and he set off to sea aged 18.
His wife, Elaine Hall, 45, said: "Considerate as men are at that age, he left a note on the kitchen table saying 'sailed on the Joe Croan', which was the first boat he went on."
Sailing from Grimsby, he worked on Christian Salvesen's deep sea trawlers, including the Fairtry II as an engine room attendant, visiting, among other places, Greenland and Canada.
Mrs Hall said: "He was to recount on many an occasion, to anyone who would listen, his experiences on those trips, including the terrifying sight of seeing the Aurora Borealis for the first time. And so was born his lifelong love of the sea and seafaring life."
Mr Hall went on to have a number of jobs throughout his 20s, including cellarman at Tennant Caledonian brewery, a conductor on Lothian Buses and a builder's labourer.
He married his first wife in his early 20s, with whom he had a daughter, Julie-Anne, and an adopted son Mark.
While Mr Hall was working in a steel mill in South Africa the marriage failed and he returned to Edinburgh.
In 1982, while working as a porter at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, he met his second wife Elaine – a 19-year-old student nurse.
Mr Hall went on to become a taxi driver around Edinburgh for 11 years while his wife moved to the Western General, where she is still a nurse.
Mrs Hall said: "We were sadly not blessed with children but enjoyed a number of nephews and nieces, and a goddaughter."
From 2004, Mr Hall worked with Edinburgh City Council as a home help and built a good rapport with all his clients.
Mrs Hall said: "Gordon was conscientious to the extreme and strove to do his best, had a cheerful disposition, enjoyed playing the clown and acting the party joker, and was popular with all who knew him."
During the last five weeks of his life he worked with the council's cleansing department.
Mrs Hall said: "Gordon was an adored and much loved husband. He was caring and protective of his family. He was a raconteur and family joker, as well as a sincere and loyal friend."
His funeral will take place at Warriston Crematorium, Lorimer Chapel, on Saturday at 11am.
The full article contains 558 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
