My father, Alex Balfour, who has died aged 87, started with the co-operative movement as a grocery apprentice at the age of 15 and retired as chief executive of the South Mid region after 52 years’ service. He was always proud of his working-class background and was a lifelong Labour supporter.
One of 10 children of James, a blacksmith, and Jean, Alex was brought up in Cardenden, Fife, and attended Auchterderran school. He excelled there, and went to the Lochgelly Co-op as a trainee instead of going down the mines.
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