East Kilbride & District Housing Association (EKDHA) is saddened to announce that its former director Mairi Brown passed away suddenly on March 7 at the age of 65.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing, Mairi led EKDHA for 15 years before retiring in 2014.

Prior to this, Mairi had worked within the housing association sector since 1980. For six years she was development officer/manager with Govan Housing Association and then moved to Cloch Housing Association in Greenock as director for 13 years.

Mairi also supported the wider housing association and social housing sector and was the driving force behind the formation of the Lanarkshire Voluntary Housing Forum, of which she spent many years as chair, as well as serving with distinction on the boards of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and the Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland.

John Robertson, chair of East Kilbride & District Housing Association, said: “The board and staff of the Association were shocked to hear of Mairi’s untimely passing. She led the organisation with distinction for many years and was held in high regard by staff, board, tenants, contractors and colleagues across all sectors. The tributes we have received from right across the sector and beyond since the news of her passing broke, are proof that she has been a popular and respected member of the social housing family throughout her long and distinguished career.”

Andy Young, the Association’s current director, added: “I got to know Mairi well when she was on the board at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations. She was a lovably eccentric lady who never missed a trick. I used to enjoy her company immensely, especially when she was enjoying a crafty fag and a gossip during breaks in meetings and conferences. She was a passionate champion of the social housing movement, particularly smaller housing associations. She was very supportive of me personally as a board member in my role at SFHA and would always take cognisance of the effect on staff before taking any decisions. Despite being unwell at the time she also made a point of telephoning her congratulations when I was appointed as her successor, an act which spoke volumes about her character. Most of our staff spent many years working with Mairi and are understandably devastated to learn that her retirement was cut short in this way. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.”

Mairi’s funeral service will be held on Friday 18th March at 10.30am at Clydebank Crematorium.