Ex-castle owner who spoke 28 languages dies at 91

A FORMER castle owner who spoke 28 languages has died at the age of 91.

Gordon Stuart once lived at Colliston Castle in Arbroath and once finished second in a contest to become Polyglot of Europe.

Mr Stuart lived at the castle for most of his life until a few years ago, when the family moved to help his youngest daughter set up a campsite business.

Married to his wife Judy for 51 years, the couple have four children a n d six grandchildren.

Throughout his life, Mr Stuart used his exceptional gift as a linguist to the full and eventually learned to understand and speak some 28 foreign languages.

At Cambridge, he gained an honours degree in Latin and Ancient Greek, combined with French and German.

He later graduated again from London University in Russian and Polish.

Mr Stuart was a teacher for many years, latterly at Arbroath High School, but retired in his fifties and for the rest of his active life worked as a professional translator, verymuchindemand.

He was president of the Institute of Linguists’ Scottish branch.

MrStuarthadakeeninterest in aircraft recognition and although he was unable to serve in the armed forces, during the Second World War he joined the Royal Observer Corps and was able to carry out important work spotting enemy aircraft as they approached Great Britain.

His other love was Colliston Castle, in which he had spent so much of his life.