TRIBUTES have been paid to a stalwart anti-nuclear campaigner from Helensburgh who died shortly before Christmas.

Eric Wallace, who took part in protests organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament for more than 50 years, died aged 81 on December 17 after a long illness.

He hit the headlines in October 1992 when he and a fellow campaigner obstructed the UK's first Trident nuclear submarine, HMS Vanguard, as it approached the Gareloch for the first time.

Eric and his fellow protester, Jim Chestnut, capsized their dinghy in the middle of the Rhu Narrows, revealing the slogan 'No Pasaran' – Spanish for 'they shall not pass' – on the upturned hull and forcing the submarine's commander to order that the boat's engines be stopped.

Arthur West, the chair of Scottish CND, said: “Eric was a dedicated campaigner for Scottish CND and the wider peace movement for many years, and we were all really saddened by his loss.

“He was a stalwart of the weekly vigils at Faslane and played an active part in those and many other protests across the country, including many at Faslane.

“The Vanguard protest summed up his passionate commitment to getting rid of nuclear weapons from Scotland.

“But he was also a real gentleman. He was on good terms with those who policed the Faslane vigils over the years, and even people who disagreed with him always found him to be an exceptionally nice man.”

Eric's fellow Vanguard protester, Helensburgh resident Jim Chestnut, said: “He was a great person. Eric, and his partner Dorothy, would do anything for anyone.

“If people were needed for protests, Eric would be there. He and his partner Dorothy, who only died in June, were always at the side of the road, protesting at nuclear convoys.

“It didn't matter what the event was – Eric and Dorothy were always there. They were very open, really welcoming people.”

Recalling the Vanguard protest 25 years ago, Jim said: “There were hundreds of people waiting at Rhu Spit – mostly Naval families but also some peace campaigners – and Eric and I had the idea that we would sail Eric's dinghy into the Narrows and capsize it to reveal the 'No Pasaran' slogan on the upturned hull.

“The MoD Police eventually towed us away towards Clynder but by the time we got there the tide was out – and because the mast was on the sea bed, we had to wait for hours, nowhere near the shore, for it to come back in again so we could right the boat.”

Born in Springburn, Glasgow in 1935, the third of five children, Eric spoke of his clear memories of a childhood spent under the shadow of the Second World War.

His first job was as an apprentice engineer for Rolls Royce, and he did his National Service in the Merchant Navy – and boats and engines would figure throughout the rest of his life.

Eric and Dorothy ran a boat-hire business on Loch Lomond – first at Drumkinnon Bay, and then at Ardlui, where they also ran a campsite, hired out log cabins and operated a small ferry across Loch Lomond to the West Highland Way.

His opposition to nuclear weapons could be traced back to the giant CND marches on Trafalgar Square in the 1960s, and continued for the rest of his life – in fact he remained a regular attender at the weekly CND vigils outside Faslane's North Gate until a few weeks before his death.

He was known for mixing his determination with good humour – his hand-made placard, 'You're Out Of Order By The Way', made him a frequent subject of photographs, and led to his being quickly recognised by MoD Police personnel at Aldermaston and Devonport as well as on the Clyde.

His generosity was exemplified by a cake his sister brought to him while he was being held at Maryhill police station – and which he managed to persuade the station manager to share among protesters and police alike.

He was also interested in local history and poetry, especially Burns, and his nieces and nephews were entertained by many song and poetry recitals over the years.

Eric's fellow Helensburgh CND campaigner, Jeanne Brady, said: “He and Dorothy, who died in June, are sorely missed, by family and friends to be sure, but also by a wide circle of anti-nuclear campaigners, both in Scotland and elsewhere.”