The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Sportsman and musician was saluted by star
Musician, sportsman and environmental health director Leslie Allan Cameron has died aged 84.
Better known as Les, the celebrated former East Coast Jazz Band leader and Dundee FC goalkeeper died in Meadowlark Care Home in Forres.
The goalkeeper was part of the 1962 Division One winning Dundee squad and spent periods with Arbroath, Montrose and Forfar.
Music was an enduring passion. The East Coast Jazz Band was the Invercarse Hotel’s resident band in the 60s and 70s and Les then played with his trio at the Angus Hotel for many years.
In later years, former Take That star Robbie Williams saluted Les as ‘sir’ when he played the pop star’s 40th birthday party at Skibo Castle.
His prowess at squash was equally impressive.
He represented Scotland at veterans and vintage level, including a four-year spell as Scottish champion.
Friends from Arbroath Golf club knew him as the “midnight golfer”.
Growing up in Nairn, he honed his sporting talents with Nairn County football club and the town’s cricket club before performing his National Service in the medical corps in Aldershot.
His goalkeeping talents were in demand and he turned down a professional contract with Crystal Palace to return to Scotland.
He started a long career in environmental health in Dundee.
There he met Margaret McKay, who despite professing to know little about either football or jazz, went on to become his wife. They were married in 1963 in Dundee before moving to Arbroath. There they had children Derek and Gillian.
He returned to Nairn on retiring and moved back to the house he had grown up in with Margaret.
Sadly, she had a stroke a few years later and Les spent the next eight years caring for her before she died.
He later met Gillian at a funeral of a friend and the couple married.
Les also made several CDs which were played at his funeral.