The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)

Police find body in loch in search for missing man

PITLOCHRY: Ian Rattray had not been seen since Monday

- Kirsty Mcintosh

A body has been found in the search for a man missing in Highland Perthshire.

Ian Rattray, 69, had not been seen since Monday morning, leaving police “increasing­ly concerned” for his welfare. Mr Rattray was well known locally, serving on a variety of different community committees since he retired to the town in 2007.

Yesterday’s search centred on the River Tummel, with teams combing the water between Killiecran­kie and the dam at Pitlochry.

Last night the police confirmed a man’s body had been recovered from Loch Faskally, Pitlochry.

While investigat­ions continue, there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstan­ces.

Mr Rattray’s family have been informed.

A body has been found in the search for a “community stalwart” missing in Highland Perthshire.

Ian Rattray’s disappeara­nce has shocked the community of Pitlochry, which was the centre of an intensive police search yesterday.

The hunt, which included resources from Tayside Mountain Rescue and a police helicopter, took place on the River Tummel between Killiecran­kie and Pitlochry Dam.

He was last seen in the Atholl Road area of the town at around 10am on Monday.

Last night, Police Scotland confirmed that a man’s body had been recovered from Loch Faskally at Pitlochry.

There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstan­ces.

A spokespers­on for the force added that Mr Rattray’s family had been informed.

The 69-year-old was well known locally, having served on a number of committees.

In 2015 he joined the Highland Perthshire Communitie­s Partnershi­p (HPCP), latterly as treasurer.

The group was dedicated to bringing wireless broadband to the region.

Fellow committee member Bruce Patterson, who served as senior project manager with HPCP, said he was concerned by Mr Rattray’s disappeara­nce.

He said: “I know him through the Highland Perthshire Communitie­s Partnershi­p. He’s also treasurer of Blair Atholl Golf Club.

“I hadn’t heard that he had gone missing until a couple of hours ago but it’s shocking.

“He’s a quiet sort of guy.”

Local man David Kernie said he knew Mr Rattray through the golf club.

He said: “He’s such a nice guy, a lovely man.

“He does a lot of things in the community – on committees and in charities. He’s always going about the town doing stuff.”

One woman, who did not want to be named, said she knew both Mr Rattray and his wife Elizabeth well.

She said: “I got a message telling me he was missing this morning and I was shocked.

“He’s a super guy, a lovely guy and it’s really awful.

“I can’t believe he’s missing. I spoke to people in town earlier and they are gobsmacked too.

“It’s so out of character.

“It’s his wife I feel for, she’ll be in bits.” Ian and his wife moved to Perthshire in 2007 after he retired from a career in the financial services.

For a time he played a part in the organisati­on of Pitlochry Highland Games and is involved with local radio station Heartland FM.

 ?? Picture: Mhairi Edwards. ?? A river search team on Loch Faskally yesterday.
Picture: Mhairi Edwards. A river search team on Loch Faskally yesterday.
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 ?? Pictures: Mhairi Edwards. ?? Search teams on Loch Faskally in Pitlochry looking for missing man Ian Rattray.
Pictures: Mhairi Edwards. Search teams on Loch Faskally in Pitlochry looking for missing man Ian Rattray.
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 ??  ?? Ian Rattray was last seen driving a black Kia Rio in the town at around 10am on Monday.
Ian Rattray was last seen driving a black Kia Rio in the town at around 10am on Monday.

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