A MULTI-MILLION pound community hub has been named after one of Barrhead’s most famous sons.

East Renfrewshire Council has changed the name of the Arthurlie Family Centre to the Sir Harry Burns Centre, in honour of the former Chief Medical Officer for Scotland.

Sir Harry, who is already a Freeman of East Renfrewshire, has long been an advocate of preventative work in communities to improve health and wellbeing.

Provost Jim Fletcher formally moved that the new £5.3million hub, in the Auchenback area of town, be named after Sir Harry at the latest meeting of East Renfrewshire Council.

He said: “I’m delighted to present this paper to council, which has cross-party support. It gives me great pleasure to move the centre be called the Sir Harry Burns Centre.

“Given his many duties and service not just to the community but to the whole of Scotland, I am sure Sir Harry will approve of the design of the building and of the proposed use and what it will deliver.

“I couldn’t think of a more deserving person to be honoured in this way.”

Sir Harry, 66, is now Professor of Global Public Health at the University of Strathclyde, having been Chief Medical Officer for Scotland from September 2005 to April 2014.

He has become known for his work to address health inequalities and is a member of the Council of Economic Advisers in Scotland.

Born in Barrhead in 1951, Sir Harry was educated at St Aloysius College, Glasgow.

In 1974, he graduated in medicine from the University of Glasgow and then pursued a career in general surgery.

For five years, he was a consultant surgeon at Glasgow Royal Infirmary before taking on a managerial role as Medical Director of Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

He completed a Masters degree in Public Health in 1990 and worked as deputy director of planning and contracts in 1992, becoming director of public health the following year.

The Sir Harry Burns Centre, built on the site of the former Auchenback Primary, offers 120 morning and 120 afternoon places for children aged between three and five.

A further 50 part-time places for children aged from birth to three years are being made available to provide a community space for families.