Una Gordon: Compassion in Action
6 May 1946 – 10 August 2026
The Aberdeen Vegan Meals Group remembers Una Gordon with deep affection, gratitude and admiration.
Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Una was a gifted musician, singer, scholar and linguist from an early age. She possessed a determination and sense of purpose that remained with her throughout her life. Those who knew her recognised her warmth, intelligence, generosity and strong sense of justice, qualities that guided both her professional and personal life.
After university, Una embarked on a distinguished career in the Prison Service, rising to become Governor of several prisons before later serving in the Home Office. She was committed not only to the effective running of institutions but also to improving the lives of those within them. Throughout her career, she worked to support the welfare of prisoners and staff alike, helping to develop initiatives that promoted care, dignity, rehabilitation and opportunity. Her work included helping to develop the mother and baby units at Holloway Prison and, before her retirement, establishing a staff welfare organisation serving prison staff throughout England and Wales. She was widely respected for her compassion, integrity and humanity.
A defining moment in Una's life came on 1 February 1992, when she married Iain Gordon, the love of her life. Together, they shared many happy years as devoted partners, travelling widely, welcoming friends into their home and building a life centred on kindness, hospitality and a deep concern for the world around them.
After many years as a vegetarian, Una became vegan in her mid-forties and devoted herself to promoting veganism and animal welfare. Compassion for animals was not simply a belief but a way of life. She supported numerous animal charities, gave loving homes to several cats over the years, and encouraged others to embrace a kinder and more compassionate way of living. Among the animals fortunate enough to share her life was Cinnamon, her much-loved golden-ginger cat and faithful companion for many years.
A Life Member of The Vegan Society from 1 December 1999, Una also served as its Local Contact in Aberdeen, helping to connect and support vegans through knowledge, encouragement and friendship. Deeply committed to animal welfare, Una attended a variety of animal rights events over the years, sometimes in circumstances that required considerable conviction and personal courage. Fairness, justice and care for the planet were values she held deeply and lived by every day.
Her commitment to animals remained unwavering throughout her life. She regarded vivisection and animal experimentation as completely anathema. This belief played a significant part in her decision to donate her body to medical science, hoping that in some small way it might contribute to reducing the use of animals in research. Even in her final act, Una sought to live in accordance with her values and to contribute to a more compassionate world.
In 2002, Una and George Rodger brought together a group of vegans for a meal at The Lemon Tree in Aberdeen. That gathering led to the formation of the Aberdeen Vegan Meals Group, which continues more than two decades later. Many friendships began around that first table, and many more followed because of Una's gift for bringing people together.
From 2007 to 2014, Una and Iain opened their beautiful home in Dufftown each summer to members of the group. Guests were welcomed with warmth, generosity and outstanding vegan food prepared by Una, whose talents as a cook were greatly appreciated by all. Those afternoons created treasured memories and strengthened the sense of community that remains at the heart of the group today.
The values that guided Una's professional life were the same values that inspired her commitment to veganism: compassion, fairness, respect for others and a determination to make the world a better place. Whether supporting prison staff and inmates, advocating for animal welfare, caring for her beloved cats or welcoming friends into her home, she always sought to improve the lives of those around her.
Following Iain's death in 2014, Una moved from Dufftown to Dunfermline to be nearer her family. Although distance meant that she was no longer able to join our regular meals, she remained in touch with the group for many years and continued to hope that she might join us again. We were always delighted to hear from her and to know that the friendships she had helped create remained important to her.
Una leaves a remarkable legacy, not only in the vegan community she helped establish, but also through the example she set through a life lived with integrity, courage, compassion and love. She touched countless lives through her kindness, generosity and unwavering commitment to her values. We remember her with great fondness and remain profoundly grateful for all she gave to our group, to the wider vegan community and to the many people whose lives were enriched by knowing her.
Dedication written by the Aberdeen Vegan Meals Group
