Ex-teacher William Shearer

WILLIA M SHEA RER, a former assistant principal of Northern College of Education, has died at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, at the age of 86.

He could have been a professional footballer, but chose an academic career instead.

Mr Shearer was born in Kyle of Lochalsh and attended Dingwall A cademy, occasionally playing in goal for Dingwall Thistle and then Ross County.

During his national service he spent two years in Austria with the British Army of the Rhine, also being selected for its football team.

He studied at A berdeen University and graduated with a BSc honours in geography.

He played in goal for Scottish Universities, gaining a full blue, and took part in the first live televised football match from Scotland between the Scottish and English Universities.

Mr Shearer was offered a chance to go professional by Patrick Thistle after leaving university, but decided to teach geography at Morgan A cademy in Dundee.

During his time there he took part in the school’s first exchange visit with Dundee’s German twin city, Wurtzburg.

He spent three years as head of geography at Graham High School in Falkirk before returning to Dundee in 1963 to become a geography lecturer at the College of Education.

He later led the geography department and was finally assistant principal of what was then Northern College of Education following a merger between the institution and its A berdeen counterpart.

Mr Shearer, who was also a former treasurer and president of Dundee A rt Society, was a founding member of Monifieth Probus Club and a keen golfer. He lived in Monifieth.

He is survived by his wife Melanna, the children Donald and Miriam and five grandchildren.