Tributes paid to Cullen community stalwart
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THE community of Cullen was in mourning last week when one of their dearest stalwarts passed away.
James Findlay passed away peacefully at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on Monday, January 11. He was 87.
Mr Findlay known to generations of pupils and parents as the headteacher of what is now Cluny Primary School, was well loved and regarded for the huge contribution he made to his local community over a great many years, not least as the president of the Cullen, Deskford and Portknockie Heritage Group.
A group spokesman paid a moving tribute to Mr Findlay and the contribution he made.
“James was an active member for many years, and president for quite a few of those. As president he was welcoming to new members and enthusiastic and diligent in his duties.
"Even after resigning as president he continued to be an active member and gave several talks in his own inimitable humorous fashion to members based upon selected items from his own local postcard collection.
"He saw through the conversion of the group to a charity as a necessary precursor to his earnest aspiration that the group should one day have its own premises. Although not yet open, he did see this aspiration achieved with the lease of the Memorial Hall for use as a Heritage Centre.
"We saw the group grow under his wing and we acknowledge the part he played in its success.
"His passing is a sad loss to all, and the thoughts of the committee and members are with Rita and family."
Mr Findlay had a long-standing, strong bond with the Cullen and Deskford Parish Church, which he served in a variety of capacities - not least as elder, a post from which he retired in 2018 - over the course of 52 years. When the Auld Kirk began offering tours round the ancient building Mr Findlay's encyclopaedic knowledge and boundless enthusiasm were brought to bear with good effect.
Cullen Auld Kirk minister Rev Douglas Stevenson paid a personal tribute to the man who initially helped sell the Cullen and Deskford parish charge to him.
"There will be a multitude of things that James Findlay will be remembered for - a husband, father (in-law), grandfather, an educationalist, his love of the Auld Kirk, his interest in all things historical, Probus and people - this last category should never be underestimated because it is truly a gift and not many of us possess it. James did.
"He was one of the first people I met when I thought about moving to Cullen and to be honest the two things that I remembered most were his raucous laughter and his full head of hair. I was envious of one and couldn’t quite get the other, but he sold Cullen and Deskford to me. As his minister he was always supportive and made himself available for words of counsel and, if the occasion merited, a dram, sometimes two. I enjoyed those chats (not to mention the whisky) and will miss them.
"He was in his element when he did door duty at the Auld Kirk. He appeared to know everyone but if he didn’t, he would approach a visitor with, ‘Hello I’m James Findlay, one of the elders, where are you from?’ An answer would be provided - cue raucous laughter - and then an introduction with myself; sometimes followed by a gentle insult (is that an oxymoron?) ‘You’ll need to excuse our minister, he’s from Ayr and supports Ayr United.’
"It is the cross which I have to carry but I knew that was just James. It seemed to work, the visitor would truly feel welcomed and sometimes be treated with a tour of the kirk, led by the Master himself. If you were to read our visitors' book signed by individuals from all over the world James got more mentions than anyone else because the love and passion that he brought to his subject could not be equalled.
"There are people that we come across as we journey through this world, some of them will make an impression and encourage us to look at ourselves or places, experiences - moments even - with fresh eyes. James had that ability. He was not only a treasured and experienced elder but a friend. He was kind and if a service moved him, he would tell me, quietly, without fuss but with true meaning. That always meant something.
"I can hear his laughter now and if God can get a word in, he would be saying: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness'.
"James, Go safely, go dancing, go running home."
Mr Findlay’s selfless work on behalf of Cullen was praised by local councillor Theresa Coull.
She said: “Mr Findlay had been very much involved with the local community for many years which has helped make it the community it is today. Having celebrated 60 years of marriage last year my thoughts are very much with Mrs Findlay and all their family and friends at this sad time.”
In addition to his Cullen commitments, Mr Findlay's lengthy list of achievements include holding the presidencies of Buckie Rotary Club, Buckie and District Probus Club, the bridge clubs in both Buckie and Cullen.
However, Mr Findlay was a weel kent face far beyond his native Cullen. After training to be a teacher in Aberdeen he went on to work in Aberdeen then Portsoy before securing the post in Buckie with which for generations of youngsters he was to become synonymous for three decades. It was also to bring with him a professional record as well as a long-lasting affection in the hearts of former pupils.
Mr Findlay was initially appointed depute rector of hwat, in 1964, was the primary department of Buckie High School before it became Buckie Primary School and, eventually, Cluny Primary as it is known today.
At the age of 31, Mr Findlay was appointed headmaster, the youngest to be handed the role in Banffshire at that time.
Mr Findlay often stated how much he loved his time there and enjoyed hearing about what his former pupils got up to in the years after they crossed the school threshold for the last time.
His time at college in Aberdeen was to see Mr Findlay meet the woman who would become his wife, a young lady named Rita - also training to be a teacher - who hailed from the Black Isle. The couple first hit it off through a shared love of badminton.
They married on July 16, 1960 at St Clement's Parish Church, Dingwall and celebrated their diamond wedding last summer.
The Findlays went on to have two children – son James, who lives and works in Minnesota, USA along with his wife Aleta and their grown-up children Hannah and Alex, and daughter Mhairi, who works in Aberdeen. Her daughter, Sarah, lives in Glasgow.
