Dugald Gonsal

• I FIRST met Dugald Gonsal when I was elected as a councillor in 1994. Not only was he easy to like, but by chance he lived in the ward which I represented.

In the town hall I also served on committees that he attended. We soon became friends.

His daughter informed me that he had died on July 19. Dugald himself had told me of his worsening health and an ongoing programme of treatment.

For a number of months towards the end he was resident in care homes but beforehand he had found solace in the company of “Bonnie”, his beloved West Highland terrier.

Dugald’s 35 years at Camden were marked by the award of an OBE which recognised his achievements.

One was the “Boulevard” project. Under his leadership as chief engineer this pioneering scheme introduced a new paving slab of a different dimension to Camden’s streets to make handling more easy than conventional paving, but it could also withstand heavy duty washing rather than sweeping or cleaning.

In its first year this innovation slashed the “trips and slips” claims on the council to zero. This paving is now marketed across the country as the “Camden Slab”.

At about this time, as chair of the relevant committee, I attended a major conference, my name pinned to the lapel of my jacket.

One delegate came up to me and asked, “Are you from THE Camden?” It turned out he was from Tory Westminster, seeking a conversation about the virtues of “Boulevard”!

Thank you Dugald.

GERRY HARRISON
Camden Councillor 1994-2006