Tom Carrick came to Dunscore in 1960 and soon became well know, well liked, and a friend to all.
He was born in Dumfries in 1932 and educated at St Michaels School and Dumfries Academy.
Tom began his professional education at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow in 1950, gaining a Diploma in Musical Education. He then spent a year at Jordanhill College of Education. A Licentiateship in Singing from Trinity College London followed.
In 1956 Tom was called up for National Service, during which time he was appointed organist and choirmaster at St John’s Episcopal Church in Dumfries, a post he held for over 50 years. He also took on the responsibility for music at Crichton Memorial Church at this time.
Following National Service he taught at Wallace Hall Academy and then Dumfries High School and for 20 years was Principal Teacher of music at the High School.
Tom died on 28th May 2010 at the age of 78.
He showed his love of Dunscore and it residents by bequeathing over £20,000 to be administered by the Community Council for the good of the village.
Six Memorial benches have been placed in memory of Tom at various locations around Dunscore.
The following article was printed in the Herald Scotland.
RAB Wilson of New Cumnock describes the background to his sonnet, composed just last week: “Oot cyclin yestirday, afore the waither broke an discovered this idyllic spot amang the hinterlands o Mid-Nithsdale.
IN MEMORY OF TOM CARRICK
Who Tom Carrick was, I’ve no idea.
But this pristine new bench now bears his name,
A strange re-cycled plastic requiem,
Atop its concrete plinth, erected here.
Mid-summer, your respite is surely welcome,
Tucked in the shade of an old sycamore,
I ponder grass strimmed perfectly; footsore,
On this blue day of endless buttercup sun.
The view from here’s astounding! I’ll confess,
Forcing me to muse upon eternity,
Cairn Valley stretching to infinity,
Distant hills shimmer into nothingness –
And I who thought nirvana some lost cause-
Perhaps we all know who Tom Carrick was