‘Guvnor’ of Gayfield Alex McKinnon, 84

Alexander (Alex) McKinnon, well-known in Arbroath for his work with the town’s football club, has died.

Mr McKinnon passed peacefully, surrounded by family, at home on August 30. He was 84.

Born in Ballieston, Glasgow, Mr McKinnon lived in Fraserburgh before he moved with his family to Arbroath in 1976.

He met his wife-to-be Hazel in Leicester in 1971 when they were both working for Caterpillar Tractors.

They moved to Fraserburgh in 1973 where they were married and had two daughters, Fiona in 1974 and Sandra in 1976. The family moved from Fraserburgh to Arbroath shortly after Sandra was born.

In Arbroath, he took over William Teviotdale’s marine engineering and repair business at the harbour.

Mr McKinnon had trained as an engineer at Coatbridge Technical

College and after serving his apprenticeship as a draftsman at Weir’s in Glasgow, went on to travel the world with the merchant navy.

On returning to dry land he worked for Caterpillar Tractors across a number of UK sites and also in the Middle East.

Mr M cK in non under took a career change in the mid 1980 sand trained as a chiropodist, practising from the family home near Keptie Pond in Arbroath right up to last year.

Sport, and particularly football, figured heavily in his life. He grew up a devoted Partick Thistle fan and after moving to Arbroath became a regular at Gayfield.

In later years, he was able to combine his passion for the game with his professional services and volunteered as the club’s “foot doctor”.

He loved being part of the club at Gayfield and with his wry sense of humour had a nickname for everyone, building up a rapport with players and fans alike.

The players knew him as “The Legend,” or “Guvnor”, and even if there was nothing wrong with their feet, many players have commented on how they went in to see Alex for a pre or post-match pep talk.

He offered his services to the club through the 1990s to 2004.

In later years Mr McKinnon was an active member of Arbroath Bowling Club where he served as secretary.

His patients knew to leave extra time for each appointment as he enjoyed a good chat while tending to their feet.

He was a well-known figure in the town and will be fondly remembered as a bow tie- wearing, sociable man, with a wry sense of humour, who never missed an opportunity to share a joke, and who enjoyed the company of his family and his many friends.

Mr McKinnon is survived by his wife Hazel and daughters Fiona and Sandra.

Chiropodist Alexander McKinnon was known for his good humour.