Music man has ‘ large boots to fill’
A chess player, bridge club member and a mad mathematician, these were just some of the things to describe Gilmour Deans.
But perhaps what he was most known for was as a family man, devoted husband and of course an avid musician. Having moved to Ayr in 1979, semi- retired Gilmour turned his love of playing piano and keyboard into weekly gigs and concerts – all on a voluntary basis. Playing at many nursing homes, Burns Suppers, ladies lunches and community clubs in Ayrshire, Gilmour was an “inspiration” and “so full of life”, says youngest of his two daughters, Carol. “He was an incredible man and once you met him you wouldn’t have forgotten him,” she added. “He probably served every single home throughout Ayrshire. “Even up to the week before he passed, he still had a concert at SADSA [ South Ayrshire Dementia Support Association]. “He went every week – they’d give him his lunch and he’d play the piano. “He played all the old classics, like ‘ I do like to be beside the seaside’ and ‘ Roll out the barrel’, all the traditional songs. Born as James Gilmour Deans in August 1933, Gilmour sadly passed away on Wednesday, June 27, just shy of his 85th birthday. He was born in Glasgow and worked as a wine and spirits merchant for his family business JG Deans & Co. He married Hazel, wife of 52 years, and the pair had two daughters, Laura, 49, and Carol, 46. Gilmour went on to become a grandpa- of- seven and greatgrandpa of one. “He was so fond of the grandchildren, they were such a big, big part of his life,” said Carol. “He was such a fun, family man. “He’d always gone on about how he’d wanted an 80th birthday party and he absolutely revelled in it – and he then turned round and asked ‘ Can I have an 85th one?’ “He was just hilarious – he used to always say he was hatched in ’ 33, matched in ’ 66 and he’ll be dispatched in ’ 99’, and he’d look at his watch and say ‘ I’m a bit overdue’. He loved his pranks and jokes. A self- taught pianist, only child Gilmour began learning at eight- years- old. And he became the gift of music that kept on giving. Carol added: “He just gave and gave and gave and never wanted anything. “To him, his music was his life – music was everything. “His first love was mum and family and second was music. “He could not sing at all and I used to think poor old folk, crikey. “He’d say ‘ I’m going to entertain today, the old people like to hear it’ and you’d think ‘ you’re 82 or 83, you’re older than a lot of them!’ “That was always his saying, it was funny. “He was so full of life. Gilmour and Hazel shared over five decades of happily married years together, meeting at a hill walking club where they continued to share their love of the outdoors together. The couple first moved into Fairfield Road in Ayr before moving to Station Drive in Prestwick when the girls had flown the nest. They both located to Templeton House in recent months before his passing, Gilmour had been caring for Hazel, who has lived with dementia for eight years. Carol said: “He wasn’t particularly well, he had a very bad heart and we knew time was of the essence but he went very quickly. “He was the most devoted husband to the point where he could’ve had a heart op but he would have put it off because he wanted to be with mum. “His main focus was mum and he cared for her for the last number of years at home, with the help of the family. “But latterly it just got too much and we’re very lucky that they both went into Templeton House and so they were both together and so relaxed. “They were in separate rooms in Templeton and one of the nurses said she had gone in and seen them cuddling on the little single bed together. “Obviously maybe he felt he could let go in many ways because he knew she was being cared for so well. “They were always together and mum was the forefront of everything for him. “The fact of him caring for her for all these years with her having dementia and yet he never complained. “They still had a laugh – they had an incredible relationship.” Gilmour will be laid to rest on Friday, July 13, at Masonhill Crematorium at noon. The service will be followed by an invite to the Fairfield House Hotel. The family have kindly requested no flowers ( family flowers only) but a donation can be made to https:// gilmour- deans. muchloved. com/ which will be split between four charities close to Gilmour – British Heart Foundation, SeAscape, Phab and SADSA. Carol added: “I couldn’t pick one and he wouldn’t want me to pick one – they all deserve it. “He has had an incredible life and has been such an inspiration. “Knowing how much he did for charity in his way of doing things, someone’s got very large boots to fill.”
He was an incredible man and once you met him you wouldn’t have forgotten him