Football coach and parkrun founder Paul Douglas

Former Dunfermline District Council worker, parkrun founder, Inverurie Locos photographer, husband and father Paul Douglas has died aged 65.

Tributes have been paid to the Fifer who went on to adopt Aberdeenshire as his home and who served Inverurie tirelessly.

Born in Dunfermline on March 3 1957, Paul Scott Douglas was the fourth of Jeremiah and Rose Douglas’ six children.

He attended Commercial Primary and Queen Anne High School. At the end of his fifth year he moved on to Kirkcaldy Technical College to study business and accounting.

After three years studying between 17 and 20 years old, and a flourishing passion for five-a-side football which remained with him for decades, he took some time off to travel.

Although Paul worked in the Co-operative Bank in Dunfermline for a year, in 1978 his career truly began. It was the same year he turned 21 and he was offered a job with Dunfermline District Council finance department.

At Christmas time 1981, Paul was introduced to Gillian Gray. By summer 1982, on the day of Gillian’s 20th birthday, they got engaged. On August 6 1983 they exchanged vows in St Andrew’s Erskine Church in Dunfermline.

Gillian was a church member and between meeting and getting married that faith became important to Paul too.

Part of their life plan to enjoy each other and their lives together before starting a new era as a family, Paul and Gillian enjoyed to travel.

In 1985 they moved to Inverurie when Paul got a job at what was then

Gordon District Council. They moved from Inverurie to Kintore in 1988 then after buying land, relocated to Pitcaple in 1994.

The couple started a family, welcoming sons Andrew and Matthew.

When local authorities reorganised in 1996 Paul was promoted to support services manager at Aberdeenshire Council. However, in 2010 he took early retirement at 53.

In 2007 the family moved back to Inverurie.

Paul, a lifelong Dunfermline Athletic fan, always loved watching and occasionally playing football. His son, Matthew, however, was a serious player from a young age.

So when Paul moved to Inverurie he got involved with Colony Park Boys (now Colony Park Football Club). Linking with his friend Dod Reid, together they looked after the Under-15s.

The club paid tribute to Paul on social media.

Paul also helped at West Garioch FC.

After his retirement Paul started to develop a love of photography, becoming photographer for the Locos at their home and away games.

He was a founding member of Garioch Sports Trust and when Gillian took up running, Paul joined in, becoming a leader with Jog Scotland Meldrum. This led to his belief that Inverurie should have its own parkrun.

Gillian explained: “When Ury Riverside Park was being developed he just had a vision for those paths that he could see emerging, being used for a parkrun.

“It’s now been going for two-and-a-half years.”

Ury Riverside parkrun paid tribute to Paul on its website following a special run day moment of remembrance.

VISION: Paul Douglas served the community tirelessly.