BESA Pays Tribute to Former President Rab Fletcher

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27 August 2025

The Building Engineering Services Association has announced the death of former President Robert (Rab) Fletcher after a lengthy battle with cancer.

In a statement, BESA said Rab was “hugely popular and highly respected.” CEO David Frise said: “Everyone who met Rab is mourning his loss and we will all miss his cheerful personality and wise counsel.

“Rab was a delightful man who worked extremely hard on behalf of our members during a difficult period for the industry. Despite his own health struggles, he remained extremely generous with his time and support, providing inspirational leadership throughout his time as President and as an officer.”

Rab was BESA President for the 2022/23 period and Mechanical Services Team Manager at the £130 million turnover building services division of Fife Council. Despite having more than 30 years of experience in construction and building services engineering, Rab modestly described himself as “a time served plumber”, having started in a plumbing role before progressing through the ranks to supervisor and co-ordinator.

“Our enduring strength and influence depend on our ability to speak with a collective voice on behalf of the whole industry – and we are not afraid to speak ‘truth to power’ wherever that power may sit.”

–Rab Fletcher 

He was promoted to Team Manager in 2012, where he was responsible for delivering an annual £15 million programme of more than 2,000 domestic heating installations for council tenants. From 2017, he also oversaw all the mechanical services in Fife Council’s 3,000 non-domestic properties.

He also served as Chair of BESA Scotland for several years and was one of the founders of the BESA Local Authority Forum, which he also chaired. This influential network forged strong links between public sector specifiers and Scottish contractors. It included representatives from every local council in Scotland who met regularly to address key industry topics and find solutions to common problems. Its meetings attracted more than 500 attendees every year.

Rab was a powerful advocate of young engineers and a committed champion of apprenticeships. He was lead mentor for Fife Council Building Services mechanical apprentices, of which there were often more than 30 working in plumbing/gas and mechanical disciplines. 

He intervened personally to ensure several were taken on by the council after being made redundant by private employers.

In Rab’s own words when he took up the BESA Presidency: “Our enduring strength and influence depend on our ability to speak with a collective voice on behalf of the whole industry – and we are not afraid to speak ‘truth to power’ wherever that power may sit.”

Picture: a photograph of Rab from when he was BESA President, wearing the ceremonial medal. Image Credit: BESA

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 27 August 2025

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