Tributes paid to former Barrhead minister Robert Hetherington

Reverend Robert Hetherington, who was minister at South and Levern Church for 25 years, died on Friday, September 29 at the age of 86 after a period of illness.

Born in Kilmarnock, he had a conventional upbringing until the age of 10 when he started losing his sight, which soon disappeared completely.

Mr Hetherington, known as Bob by friends, studied at Worcester College for the Blind before attaining MA and BD degrees at the University of Edinburgh, collecting many prizes along the way.

Robert Hetherington with his family (Image: Stephen Mansfield)

Robert Hetherington with his wife Inge (Image: Sourced)

He undertook further study at the Marburg and Göttingen Universities in Germany, where he met and married his wife Inge in 1964.

After teaching philosophy and carrying out ministry work in south India for a number of years, he returned to Scotland and served as a minister in the area of Inverbrothock, in Arbroath, before moving to Barrhead in 1977.

Close friend Alan Martin, who served as a session clerk at South and Levern Church, described Mr Hetherington as "exceptionally clever" and "the most genuine person I have ever known."

He told the Barrhead News: "Bob accepted his blindness totally and carried on living his life to the full extent.

Robert Hetherington Barrhead South induction programme (Image: Supplied)

Robert Hetherington with his wife Inge (Image: Stephen Mansfield)

"He did everything - he would go on skiing holidays, he mastered computers, he and his wife would go canoeing."

During his time in Barrhead, Mr Hetherington lived in the manse at Colinbar Circle and proved to be very popular with local residents.

Alan said: "Bob was absolutely dedicated to his congregation and very well known within the parish at the foot of the town.

"When he went for walks with his guide dog, people would stop to talk to him and within a sentence of you speaking, he would recognise who you were.

Robert Hetherington in his study with his braille typewriter (Image: Stephen Mansfield)

"He would do the fun runs in Barrhead with Ian Shaw, who was the local Scout master at that time, with a string tied between both their wrists."

Reverend Tim Mineard, who serves as the minister at St Andrew's Church in Barrhead, added: "Robert was held in really high regard and great affection by the people of South and Levern Church and the people of Arthurlie Church, as it was back then.

"He was also respected within the presbytery, as I understand he always had something very pertinent to say whenever there was a debate and when he spoke, people listened, because he spoke with real authority."

Mr Hetherington is survived by his wife Inge, sons David, Michael and Jeremy, daughter-in-law Pauline and grandchildren Adam and Rachael.

His funeral will take place at the Hurlet Crematorium, in Barrhead, at 3pm on Tuesday, October 17.