Tribute have been paid to a high-achieving Angus woman, who died aged 31 after a diabetic episode earlier this month.
Dr Leigh Ellison was head girl and dux of Carnoustie High School and graduated with a first-class honours degree in pure mathematics from St Andrews University.
After developing a flu-related bug and being sent home from work, Ms Ellison was due to spend the following day working from her home in Aberdeen. Unable to make contact, colleagues alerted the Grampian Police who dispatched officers to break into her home.
Ms Ellison was found dead on her sofa on Friday January 6, having succumbed to a diabetic incident in her sleep.
News of the tragedy has spread quickly around her home town, with messages of condolence flooding in to her father Chris.
Paying tribute to his daughter, Mr Ellison said: “She enjoyed being at home in Carnoustie and tried to get back there whenever possible.
”Although she lived in halls during her time in St Andrews and Glasgow, she would always try to come home at the weekends to see her family and especially her mum, whom she was very close to.
”Her mother died nearly seven years ago, which was devastating for Leigh, but she coped with the help of family and close friends and she bravely continued her studies at university.”
He added: ”Carnoustie is a close and friendly community and I haven’t needed to tell anybody what has happened. Everybody has found out through friends of the family or her friends from high school.
”I have been amazed to see how well known she was with friends as far afield as California, most of whom she met during her days researching her PhD or presenting at conferences.”
Mr Ellison added: ”The sad thing is that this tragedy was avoidable people with diabetes live on the knife edge of monitoring and balancing their insulin levels.
”She had a flu bug which meant that her insulin level became low. She simply lay down on the sofa and didn’t wake up. What a special person she was, and what a heartbreaking way for her to go.”
Ms Ellison attended primary school in Carnoustie, where she lived with her parents until finishing high school. In her final year, 1997, she was made dux of the school for her academic achievements.
She studied at St Andrews and, after graduating with a first-class honours degree, she completed a PhD at Glasgow University.
Ms Ellison was then offered a position with prestigious finance specialists Deloittes, where she gained her chartered accountancy certification. From there she went on to work in the offshore oil industry.
Latterly she worked with the international Forum Energy Technology company in Aberdeen where she worked as a financial controller.
Ms Ellison’s colleagues were shocked and saddened at the news. One workmate, who asked not to be named, said: ”She was a highly respected member of the team and was known for her precise and meticulous work. She was well liked as a friend and colleague and will be sadly missed”.
Ms Ellison devoted a lot of time to her career, but she also enjoyed sport and spending time with friends and family.
She was a member of the groundbreaking ladies’ football team at Carnoustie High School and could latterly be found at the gym or playing tennis.
Ms Ellison is also survived by stepbrother Mark, grandfather Ron and her mother’s sisters Marion and Kay. A celebration of her life and achievements will take place at the Panbride Country Church, Carnoustie, on January 23 at 1pm.
Donations for diabetic research will be received by the church.