Moray man (77) who raised estimated £180K for charity over 30 years recognised on New Year Honours List
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A MORAY man who has raised an estimated £180,000 for charity over a 30-year period has been recognised in the King's New Year Honours List.
John MacKintosh, a Forres loon who has stayed in Elgin for 52 years, sold items at car boot sales from 1993 until 2023, raising funds for Cancer Research UK and Girlguiding UK.
He is also well-known for his work in the Cancer Research UK shop on Elgin High Street, where he has volunteered for 26 years.
John (77) was in disbelief when he was told of his award. He said: "I just couldn't believe it. I still can't believe it. I don't believe things until I see them in black and white.
"I have had everybody on Facebook wishing me well – a lot of folk can't believe it either!
"I would like to point out that this wouldn't have been possible without the help of the public who bought items from me at the car boot sales. That's where I raised most of the money."
John's partner Stella Vass was a Girlguiding leader in Mosstodloch and he originally began fundraising to help them, back in 1993.
"The Guides were needing new tents and I had done one or two car boots by then," he explained. "I said I would put one on and the Guides could bring stuff to sell.
"I was doing a stall once a month, just to get rid of stuff, and the council said they were going to have to class me as a trader. So I said I would do it for charity."
John began raising funds for Cancer Research around the turn of the century. He had testicular cancer when he was 50 and the cause meant a lot to him.
He stopped his car boot sales last year due to heart problems and arthritis, but continues to do voluntary shifts in the Cancer Research UK shop.
"I was about 50 when I was diagnosed with testicular cancer," he said. "I was one of the lucky ones. After that it was all about spreading the word.
"I have been very lucky and raised approximately £180,000 for charity. I had a great time on the car boot sales and in the shop.
"Put it this way, if I hadn't enjoyed it I wouldn't have been doing it all these years. It's a great shop to work in – everybody is friendly."
John thanked everyone who has supported him over the years, including some who have been visiting his stalls for decades.
"I have regulars in the shop that are holidaymakers that started at the car boot sales and still come in to see how I am," he said.
"It's a great feeling to know folk care about you. I would like to thank everybody that has supported me."
In addition to his BEM, John will soon receive an Honorary Fellowship to mark a quarter of a century volunteering Elgin's Cancer Research UK shop.
Aside from his charitable work, John spent 28 years working in the whisky industry and was a telegram boy in Forres for 13 years in his younger days.
He is also well-remembered for running the whisky shop at the Tolbooth which raised funds for Forres Heritage Trust.
