A MEMORIAL service will take place on Friday for a pioneering eco-architect from the Borders who died in Africa last week.

Iver Salvesen from Stow was part of a voluntary work party in Tanzania when he took ill.

The 47-year-old collapsed after an early morning jog last Monday and died on his way to the hospital.

The ecological entrepreneur flew out to Tanzania with a further 27 volunteers from the Edinburgh-based Vine Trust to construct homes for orphans.

Vine Trust chief executive Willie McPherson said the charity was shocked at his death, describing Mr Salvesen as a "super fellow who was always keen to help".

He said: "While participating in a Vine Trust expedition to construct homes for orphaned children in the Moshi district of Tanzania, Iver tragically took ill and died after an early morning jog with fellow volunteers.

"Iver, with his background in construction and ecological techniques, was part of the Trust's 100 homes programme and was keen to bring his

expertise to hand to make it as successful as possible.

"It is an absolute tragedy and we are all shocked by the tragic events."

Mr Salvesen hit the headlines three years ago when he built Scotland's first straw house for one of his workers at his 600-acre Muirhouse Farm near Stow, where he lived with his American wife Wendy and three children.

He was currently completing a further straw bale eco-build at Muirhouse with a view to creating a small eco-village of holiday homes.

Mr Salvesen, who oversaw property conversions and development across much of the UK, was also heavily involved in plans to create an eco-village at Craik, near Hawick.

Since his sudden death last week a fundraising page in his memory has raised more than £500 for the Vine Trust.

A memorial service for Mr Salvesen will take place at St Mary's Parish Church in Haddington on Friday following a private cremation.

Donations from the service will also go to The Vine Trust.