Vera Hiddleston

Born: October 27, 1931;

Died: April 27, 2017

VERA Hiddleston, who has died aged 85, was a senior figure in the social work sector in Scotland who became the first director of the Scottish Probation Officers' Training Course. She was also head of the division of social work at Jordanhill College of Education in Glasgow after spending several years as a senior child care officer in Mid Lothian, East Lothian and Peebles.

She was born one of two girls to a father who was a poultry farmer and mother who was a primary school teacher. They lived in the Stirlingshire village of Airth. After completing her primary education, she attended Stirling High School where she became dux girl. Her sister remembers her as always reading and studying. Although Vera's school reports were glowing, Norma mentions a spirit of rebellion on the matter of school uniform.

At Edinburgh University, the young Vera studied history and graduated MA (Hons) in 1953. She went on to obtain a diploma in social studies at the same university and after her work in Mid Lothian, East Lothian and Peebles children's department, she moved into the sphere of academic social work.

One of her students, who joined the Probation Officers' Training Course on the first day, comments: “We were all greeted by this smiling, gentle mannered, reassuring presence in a smart suit. She remained that reassuring presence throughout my training. That does not mean she did not challenge us as she knew we would be challenged in our work.

"She prepared us well and spoke of humility – I never forgot that – and also fought so hard to improve standards in training and practice in her quiet, determined, polite and very effective way.”

Another of her former students, following a recent visit to see her, said: “I think of the Vera of 50 years ago; lively, intense, focused, inspirational and determined for her students to succeed and do well in their careers.”

Tom Bone, the retired principal of Jordanhill College of Education, to which Vera Hiddleston went as a lecturer in social work in 1967 and later became head of department (division of social work) in 1967, remembers her with affection. He said that although her department was small, it played a significant part in the life of the college were she was respected and well liked by all the staff.

Other appointments held by Ms Hiddleston, over a significant period in the development of the social work profession in Scotland were her membership of the Scottish Advisory Council in Child Care (1960-62) and the Council for Training and Education in Social Work (1968-70). Later she was chair of the management committee of the Centre for the Study of Child Abuse. In 1975 she was awarded the OBE in the Birthday Honours List for services to social work.

In November 2006 she gave a paper to the Social Work History Network at Edinburgh University. Her topic was the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. She spelled out what she saw as the development of social work in Scotland prior to and after the Kilbrandon Report of 1964. From a somewhat narrow focus, she said, relating to the treatment of juvenile delinquents and juveniles in need of care or protection or beyond parental control grew a piece of legislation which transformed and unified the personal casework services in Scotland. Not only were children's hearings set up to replace juvenile courts but a matching fieldwork organisation was established to create today's social work departments. Ms Hiddleston played a highly significant part in all this process of change. She was a doughty fighter, not afraid to take on both political decision makers and providers of resources at national and local levels, always with courtesy, integrity and warm humanity.

She was a practising Christian and, over several decades, a valued member of the congregation at St John's Renfield Church in Kelvindale. A friend and fellow member (Pat McGill) remembers Ms Hiddleston's involvement in setting up a team of volunteers to support the work of the minister and elders in visiting members in care homes, hospitals and at home. Her strong faith and encyclopaedic knowledge of the Bible were much appreciated by a Bible study group called Unlock the Word and she was an enthusiastic member of the church book group.

Vera Hiddleston had been resident in Galahill House care home since her discharge from a hospital in Glasgow when it was no longer possible for her to return to her own home. Despite her poor state of health she was able to approve the move and accept her need of residential care. In Galashiels she was near her sister Norma who lives there and other members of her family, who were also so important to her, were able to visit. She also had visits from friends including members of her church and former colleagues. All were greeted with that well remembered smile and welcoming word.

Vera Hiddleston is survived by her sister Norma, nephews Murray and Martin, niece Fiona and their families who are the ones who will miss her most.

ALASTAIR SINCLAIR