Engineer, academic and motorcycle fan Dr Graeme Collie

Engineer, archaeologist, assistant university professor and passionate motorcyclist Dr Graeme Collie has died in St Columba’s Hospice in Edinburgh at the age of 57.

Born in Edinburgh in a family with a proud engineering background, Dr Collie was educated in Aberdeen before studying biological sciences then mechanical engineering at Heriot Watt University.

To widen his knowledge of archaeology, Graeme signed up with the universities of Exeter and Leicester, first of all for an undergraduate diploma, then an MA.

In 2013 he gained his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Heriot Watt. On a memorable day he received his doctorate and the Henry Black Prize alongside his daughter Morven. Both graduated on the same day, with Morven gaining her Masters in Mechanical Engineering.

Dr Collie’s career in the oil industry with FMC Technologies, based in Dunfermline, spanned almost three decades. After taking early retirement from FMC, he joined the academic staff as assistant professor at Heriot-Watt in 2016.

He had a passion for motorcycling, particularly on classic British bikes and Harley Davidsons, and enjoyed taking part in motocross events.

He had collected motorcycles of all types, and spent hours restoring and maintaining them. He also built one-off specials, including a Harley Chop which found the front page of the national motorcycling magazine Back Street Heroes with the spectacular backdrop of the Forth Railway Bridge.

His love of motorcycles is shared by his son Magnus and the pair often shared motocross tracks for off-road sport.

When Magnus developed a keen interest in music he found no venues or promoters allowed under 18s to play live. The result was Dunfermlinebased Monochrome Music, initially creating gigs for Magnus’s band and those of his friends.

The concept took off and packed local venues with under 18s watching new musicians.

Dr Collie’s funeral began with a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle hearse leading mourners, including fellow bikers on their motorcycles, from Grange Loan to Mortonhall.

He is survived by his mother Jean, sister Vivien, Magnus and Morven, and grand-daughter Ava.

In the past six years, he had lived with his partner Meng Choo (Jeannie) and her son Marcus.

Dr Collie was passionate about his collection of motorcycles.