James Macpherson: Tributes paid to former Elgin Rotary Club and Burns Club member after his death
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TRIBUTES have been paid after the death of an Elgin community stalwart.
James Macpherson died on the evening of Thursday, November 29, 2022, at the age of 78.
Mr Macpherson was well-known in Moray for his work with Elgin Rotary Club, Elgin Burns Club and for being a golf enthusiast.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Elizabeth, as well as his sons Chris and Stewart and his grandchildren, Angus, Iona, Davie and Beth.
James Stewart Macpherson was born in Stornoway on January 23, 1944, where his dad worked as a technical teacher and his mother was an agriculture dairy advisor.
In 1946, his family moved to Perth – where he grew up with his sister Janet and found his passion for golf.
Mr Macpherson met the love of his life Elizabeth at Perth High School at 17 and the pair married in 1969.
By that time Mr Macpherson had graduated from Strathclyde University with a diploma of Business Studies and Economics and had secured his first job as a business studies teacher at North Kelvinside in Glasgow.
After marriage, the happy couple moved north as Mr Macpherson became the principal teacher of business studies at Golspie High School.
It was in Golspie that they started a family as twins Chris and Stewart were born in October 1970
Mr Macpherson's work as a teacher took the family to Bahrain in 1979 – where they stayed for four years as he worked at Bahrain Gulf Polytechnic.
After a brief stint at Thurso High School, the family moved to Elgin in 1985, where they settled down and have remained since.
Mr Macpherson worked as a business studies lecture at Moray College before retiring.
Retirement brought lots of new things to Mr Macpherson's life. He was offered a post with Gordon and MacPhail and started the Spirit of Speyside Golf and Whisky Festival.
He became president of the Elgin Burns Club and did after-dinner speaking at numerous events, as well as passing on his wisdom during school visits.
More time for golf was also afforded Mr Macpherson – and he won multiple trophies at Moray Golf Club, where he was a member from 1985. He was chairman of Moray and Nairn Golf League for 17 years.
In 2007, Mr Macpherson became a member of Elgin Rotary Club, which he did tireless fundraising for until he passed.
Son Stewart spoke at his dad's funeral, which took place at St Columba's South Church on Thursday, December 13.
"As a family we have been overwhelmed with the support from cards, flowers, messages, visits and meals and baking," he said.
"My father was a good uncle and father in law, a loving and devoted husband to my mum Elizabeth, a great father to Chris and myself, and a devoted grandpa.
"He will be sorely missed by all."
George Duthie, former Elgin Rotary Club president, added: "Despite becoming progressively frailer, James was still a very regular attendee at our meetings via Zoom, surely a testimony to his drive.
"He was an ideal role model for any Rotarian as for sure he always put service before self.
"All who knew James will miss him terribly and we all remember Elizabeth and her family in our prayers."
