AN AMAZING MAN – that was the tribute paid to Moray veteran Gordon MacDonald who passed away at his Forres home after attending the European Pipe Band Championships last week.
Mr MacDonald, who was 87, was just 12-years-old at the outbreak of the Second World War but later left Forres to join the Gordon Highlanders for whom he became a Sergeant Major.
He was station in Germany in 1959 when he met his wife Helga and the couple had eight children.
His youngest daughter Denise Allan said that her dad had no illnesses at all so it was a sudden death: “He was at Piping at Forres, had a beer in the legion then went home and that was it, he was gone.”
Mrs Allan said that there could have been very few people in Forres who did not know Mr MacDonald, telling the P&J: “He just wanted to be a part of everything to do with the town.”
Moray’s MP Angus Robertson, who had met Mr MacDonald many times, said: “He was an amazing man and a stalwart of the Forres community. Gordon played a huge part in the Royal British Legion and will be sorely missed as President of the Forres SNP after investing decades of dedication.”
Mr Robertson Holyrood colleague Richard Lochhead MSP added: “Gordon was a lovely , good man who had served his country in the forces and was a familiar face in Forres.
“His absence at future events will be difficult for everyone.”