“Lynn was an engaging raconteur who did a lot of voluntary work for the Army.  She told me a pipe march had been composed in her name, and she’d tell us when she heard it during military parades on TV!”  

Lilian (Lynn) Cameron left an exceedingly generous gift in her Will to the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF), amounting to £387,760.46 from the remainder of her estate. 

We spoke to David Cameron about the life of his friend, the late Lilian (Lynn) Cameron, and her support for the Army Benevolent Fund. 

Lynn was born on 18th January 1934.  Sadly, her mother died shortly after giving birth, so she was brought up by her maternal aunt in Ednam, near Kelso. 

“Lynn’s aunt then married a man named William Gray, who adopted Lynn during World War Two with the agreement of her father, who was a soldier.  It’s possible he didn’t survive the war,” David explained. 

“Lynn hugely admired her adopted father, William.  He ran outside catering for the famous Aperitif Restaurant in Edinburgh, often for the Queen and various other VIPs.  He encouraged Lynn to train in all aspects of hotel management, and she did very well at that.”  

“Lynn went on to do lots of different jobs, meeting all sorts of interesting and important people along the way.  However, no matter what she did or where she went, she always maintained a strong interest in the Scottish Borders.” 

David and his wife had come to know Lynn and her late husband, Ian, through the Clan Cameron Association in Scotland.  “I was chosen as its President in 1999, and Ian kindly took on the role of Treasurer,” he said.  “Lynn collated all the memberships and helped with a newsletter, and the four of us quickly became firm friends.  After Ian died, we kept in constant touch with Lynn, and helped her whenever we could.”   

 “Lynn particularly loved Army music.  Ian had played the fiddle in the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, and they would organise performances in the Usher Hall.  The proceeds were donated to charities supporting wounded former Armed Services personnel.”  

“Lynn’s health sadly deteriorated in her later years, although she endured numerous operations stoically.  She died on 28th July 2023, and rests with her birth mother and late husband at the Rosebank Cemetery, in her early childhood hometown of Kelso.”  

As well as being a friend of Lynn’s, David, was also one of the Executors of her Will. It was in this capacity that David agreed to the ABF Scotland’s offer of a 1pm salute at Edinburgh Castle in her memory.  This was held on Friday 16th May 2025. 

“The Army were very supportive of Lynn and Ian’s voluntary work, which no doubt explains her generous support for the ABF,” said David.  “She would be pleased to know that her legacy will help a great many soldiers and their families in their times of need.”