Campaigner. Born in Kirkcaldy and educated at Kirkcaldy High School and the University of Edinburgh, worked as a research at the Scottish Parliament and later for the Better Together campaign against Scottish Independence. Having been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2014, he became a tireless campaigner to improve the lives of his fellow sufferers and was able to use his political connections to raise awareness of the condition, improve the care available and raise more than £500,000 for research. Amongst many awards, he was presented with a British Empire Medal in Edinburgh City Chambers in 2015 and an honorary doctorate by the University of Edinburgh, giving an inspirational speech to medical graduates in the McEwan Hall. His funeral was held at Warriston Crematorium in Edinburgh, with many political figures attending, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (b. 1970) and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown (b. 1951). In 2018, the University renamed one of their buildings the Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre in his honour.
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