Alistair Watson, aged 76, emeritus professor at Dundee University

Dundee University emeritus professor Alistair Watson has died aged 76.

Born in Aberfeldy on September 30 1942, Alistair was the first-born son of George and Grace.

He spent his formative years at Grandtully Primary and Breadalbane Academy achieving the role of school captain and school dux.

After studying mathematics at Edinburgh University, he picked up a job and postgraduate with the university’s computer unit before taking up a PhD scholarship at the Australian National University in Canberra.

In 1969 he moved back to Scotland after being offered a position with the numerical analysis group at Dundee University.

The department was considered by many as the leading centre in the UK at the time, with Alistair specialising in a branch of numerical analysis called approximation theory.

Described by friends and family as intelligent and meticulous, but also calming and modest, he moved up in later years to become the head of department over two spells.

His many roles at Dundee University included senior lecturer, reader, and personal chair in approximation theory.

He was upgraded to established chairman of NA before being made emeritus professor on his retirement in 2007.

Other than mathematics, his greatest loves were squash, music, running and football, following the lead of his father, who played for Heart of Midlothian and

St Johnstone.

He was co-editor of the UK Numerical Analysis journal for 15 years and was a keen researcher, having published two textbooks, edited 15 conference proceedings, and authored close to 150 peer-reviewed papers in refereed journals.

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in April this year and died on August 11.

He leaves behind wife Hilary, their daughter Kirsty, brothers Neil and Jimmy, and sister Gillian, with his brother Stevie having passed away some years ago.

The funeral will take place at Dundee Crematorium tomorrow at 1.30pm. All friends and family are invited.

Emeritus professor Alistair Watson.