Former Fife head teacher, who started work as a miner, Alex (Ing) Douglas, 81

Former Fife head teacher Alex Douglas has died at the age of 81. Mr Douglas taught English and geography at Auchterderran Junior High in Cardenden, where he worked as a teacher then head teacher until the school’s closure in 1989. He then moved with pupils to the new Lochgelly High School and remained there until his retiral several years later. Born in Fife, Mr Douglas moved to Newcastle with his mother at the age of two when his father was captured by the Japanese during the Second World War. His mother was already expecting his sister Ann and gave birth a few months later. The family remained there for four years, returning to Kirkcaldy when Mr Douglas was six. A second sister, Emily, was born four years later. Because there were five men in the family called Alex Douglas, each was given a nickname and Mr Douglas was known as Ing – short for English in recognition of the time spent living in Tyne and Wear. His intelligence became apparent as he grew older but he opted to take a job down the pits instead of going to high school and worked at Frances Colliery in Dysart, known locally as the Dubbie. It was during this time, at the age of 19, that he married wife Irene and the couple went on to have a son. He worked at the Dubbie till he was in his mid-30s, at which point his potential was realised by pit managers and he was offered a bursary to study English at what is now Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. This was followed by teacher training and his move to Auchterderran School. Away from the classroom he was a keen and talented golfer and was delighted to achieve a hole in one at least once in his life. After he retired at the age of 55, he spent more time on the golf course and also enjoyed gardening and holidays with Irene. He was pre-deceased by his wife and in his latter years he was cared for at Barrogil Care Home in Cluny. His funeral takes place at Kirkcaldy Crematorium at 10.15am tomorrow.

Alex Douglas has died at the age of 81