Enthusiast Bob championed aviation heritage

Oneof the leading lights behind an attraction dedicated to preserving Moray’s aviation heritage has died.

Bob Dunnett championed the Morayvia Science and Technology Centre at Kinloss from the early stages of its development, and helped guide scores of visitors through exhibits since it opened last year.

Mr Dunnett even played a key role in securing the amenity its own former airport fire engine this year, despite suffering from cancer.

But sadly, earlier this month, he lost his battle with the condition, at the age of 74 after seeing the project come to fruition.

Mr Dunnett’s lifelong love of engineering began when he worked as a draughtsman on nuclear submarine projects in Barrow, in Cumbria.

In later years, he moved into the oil and gas sector as an engineer and project manager – a career that helped him forge friendships across the world, including in Indonesia, Dubai and Canada.

After retiring, Mr Dunnett and his wife, Florence, moved to Nova Scotia in Canada.

But Mr Dunn et soon returned to Mo ray–and discovered an outlet for his passion for science.

As somebody fascinated by flight and aviation, he joined the community-led Morayvia group in 2012, which was originally established to preserve the last remaining Nimrod aircraft from RAF Kinloss, but soon expanded into an enterprise designed to promote science and engineering.

The scheme took up residence at a former primary school in Kinloss last spring, and secured its prize exhibit – a bright yellow Sea King search and rescue helicopter – shortly thereafter.

Mr Dunnett employed much of his engineering knowledge towards ensuring the success of the project and was appointed as a director early last year.

Morayvia chief executive, Stan Barber, led the tributes after Mr Dunnett’s passing.

He said: “Bob was a muchvalued director, volunteer, staunch supporter, gentleman and friend, as well as a gifted woodworker, handyman and guide. He will be sorely missed by all of his family and his extended family at Morayvia.”

Mr Dunnett managed an initiative aimed at acquiring a Highlander Rapid Intervention Vehicle from Highlands and Islands Airport earlier this year.

He also helped arrange the delivery of a Soviet Union Antonov 2 plane, dating back to the 1950s, just last month.

Refurbishment work on the Russian relic is ongoing so that it can be used as an educational tool at Morayvia.

During this week’s funeral service, his family reflected on cherished memories of holidays on Scotland’s picturesque west coast.

His children said that Mr Dunnett was a man “who loved, and who was loved”.

He died on Sunday, July 10, and was buried this week following a service in Forres, which was attended by family, friends and many of his Morayvia colleagues.

He is survived by his wife, Florence, and sons, Kevin, Russell and Garry.

There were collections for both the Marie Curie cancer charity and Morayvia at his funeral.

Bob Dunnett was dedicated to preserving aviation heritage