Tributes flood in for ‘inspirational’ John
Tributes continue to pour in for businessman and charity champion John Bullough of Culcreuch MBE.
John – who was instrumental in setting up Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) in Perth – sadly died on Thursday last week. He was 54.
John’s parents are Michael and Sandra Bullough, who live at Huntingtower.
The First Gulf War veteran leaves behind his beloved wife Lady Georgina, daughter of the late Earl of Mansfield, and their son Hercules.
John joined and subsequently ran the family business Mcewens of Perth Ltd. More recently, he worked at the developmental end of the renewables sector. He was also a volunteer constable with Police Scotland.
Major Bullough was a member of the Royal Company of Archers, involved with the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland, and was the Adjutant of the Atholl Highlanders, the country’s only private army based at Blair Atholl.
Lord Kinnoull, Deputy Lord-lieutenant of Perthshire and Lt Colonel commanding the Atholl Highlanders, said: “John had a wonderful mix of knowing exactly how to do anything while always retaining his natural wit and charm.
“John paraded with the regiment in many countries, and memorably commanded the parade when the regiment was at Hougoumont where the Scots Guards had held against great numbers during the battle of Waterloo.”
John’s presence in Perth life was marked by Perth and Kinross Provost Xander Mcdade, who spoke of the businessman at a Full Council meeting on Wednesday.
Cllr Mcdade said: “John’s love and commitment to Perth and Kinross was clear through his management of Mcewens of Perth, his leadership of the very first iteration of the Perth City Leadership Forum, and as founder of Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance at its home base in Scone.
“He will be a much-missed champion of this area. Our thoughts are with his wife, Georgina, their son, and all of his family and friends at this sad time.”
At the same meeting, Cllr Grant Laing, leader of the council, introduced a paper covering the strategic priorities for culture and physical activity and sport with words about Mr Bullough.
Cllr Laing said: “In less than a year we will be marking the opening of Perth Museum as one of the most exciting and important new cultural assets for Scotland as well as Perth and Kinross.
“In this context it is right for the council to acknowledge the tireless enthusiasm and support of John Bullough ... in bringing the Stone of Destiny to Perth.
“John was also the first chair of the Perth City Leadership Forum and a passionate advocate of our local heritage, and he will be very sadly missed.”
John attended the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Scots Guards Regiment in April 1989.
He joined the First Battalion in Hohne in Germany and served in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
He was then part of the Commanding Officer’s Battalion Headquarters Group during the First Gulf War in 1991 and subsequently became the 1st Battalion’s Intelligence Officer.
A spokesperson for the Scots Guards described John as “a human dynamo” engaging himself with many different activities and charities.
He left the Army in November 1992 and spent the next 15 years starting and successfully running a number of businesses in Romania, before returning to his beloved Perthshire.
Stephen Leckie, the Lord-lieutenant of Perth and Kinross, called John’s death “a travesty”.
The Bulloughs’ home is at Logiealmond, near to John’s old school, Glenalmond College.
A spokesperson said: “John made a significant and positive impact on many people here, as he did on a great many others across Perthshire and beyond.
“His achievements were impressive but it is clear that he will be most remembered as a fine man and an inspirational human.
“He will be much missed, and the thoughts of the entire college community are with his family and friends.”