"Meeting needs, creating opportunities and preparing young people for the future"
'MODEST AND DEVOTED FAMILY MAN' HAD A GREAT SENSE OF ADVENTURE
Macduff mourns former teacher and lifeboat stalwart
A former teacher and long-serving stalwart at a north-east lifeboat station has died at home.
Jim Allan, 68, was described by his family yesterday as a "dedicated family man" who had lived a full life.
Glasgow-born Mr Allan suffered a suspected aneurysm at his home in Macduff's Gellymill Street on Wednesday evening.
Elaine, his wife, said: "He had a great sense of adventure and humour and was very satisfied with his life. He was modest and devoted to his family and you always felt safe with him."
Mr Allan was principal teacher of nautical studies at Banff Academy from 1974 until his retirement in 2001.
He moved to the north-east after holding the post of assistant principal in the same subject at Wick Academy from 1971.
Before embarking on his teaching career, Mr Allan served in the Merchant Navy and joined the Clan Line when he was 16. He then worked with Shell Tankers where he was a first officer and the youngest person in the company, at 26, to gain his master mariner's foreign-going ticket.
He started teaching when the nautical studies post became available at Wick.
His RNLI service started at Wick and continued at Macduff, where he was coxswain of two different types of lifeboat at the station.
He was the operations manager and lauching authority at Macduff.
At Banff Academy he was involved with a school sailing club and helped pupils gain nautical skills with boats they built themselves.
He also became known to scores of local fishermen for weekend classes at his home for those seeking their skipper's ticket.
Mrs Allan said: "He was proud that his first candidates completed the course in five weeks instead of the normal five months at college."
He had an enduring love of the sea and his pastimes included travel, snooker and walking.
In September this year, he was presented with the Clan Macduff Society quaich by Banff and Macduff Community Council.
It is given anually to a Macduff resident for community efforts above and beyond the call of duty and went to Mr Allan for his lifeboat work.
He is survived by his wife, daughters Adelaine and Sheina and four grandhildren.
[By John Thomson]
