Ambulance hero tribute

Cec White, who has died aged 86, enjoyed a life of daring and adventure. As a young man he drove the famous steam locomotive Mallard and once rescued swimmers from the River Tay at Perth.

He was perhaps best known for his role as leading ambulanceman at Cupar. During his service he delivered seven babies and rescued a tot from drowning.

At his funeral in Cupar, his hearse was led by an ambulance first response car from his home at Braehead to St John’s Parish Church.

James Cecil White was born in Cupar in October, 1936, the first son of Bill and Agnes White.

He began his education at Kinross Primary School before the family moved to Perth when his father got a job on the railways.

Cec, who had three younger brothers, Ron, Bill and Derrick, attended Craigie Primary School and then Perth High School.

When he was 14, his father died so he went to work on the railways to ensure that the family did not lose their tied house.

It was while working as a train reporter in the marshalling yard that Cec got the chance to drive Mallard and Merlin for short distances.

After three years on the railway, he learned that the tied house was secure so began his baker’s apprenticeship.

During the summer of 1955 while out canoeing on the Tay, he rescued holidaymaker Jean Gimbert and went to the aid of two men, Tom Mckay of Perth and Jimmy Gough of Buckhaven, who had gone to help her.

In 1961, Cec married his first wife, Noreen, and they went on to have two children, Carol and Alan.

Cec hankered for a change of career and became Cupar’s first ambulance driver.

He was soon joined by a second driver, Jimmy Hall.

Cec and Jimmy saved many lives but for one, the rescue of a two-year-old child from Ladyburn, Cupar, Cec was awarded a certificate of merit from the St Andrew’s Ambulance Association.

In 1969, the Cupar service ceased and the family, together with ambulance, moved to Braehead.

A few years later, Cec and Noreen separated and he remarried, to Moira, in 1973. Together they brought up Carol, Alan, Jillian, Victor, Mark and Tracey and also welcomed Debbie.

Outside work, he loved his cars and was a longterm member of Duffus Park Bowling Club, where he served as secretary, vicepresident and president.

LONG SERVICE: Cec White, former leading ambulanceman at Cupar, saved many lives.

The cortege is led by an ambulance response car.