Renowned head teacher with diverse range of talents

When he retired as head teacher of a large Aberdeen secondary school, Alex Sibbald found an unlikely new calling as the goalkeeper for an ice hockey team.

Mr Sibbald swapped overseeing Hazlehead Academy for minding the net during games on Moray Leisure Centre’s rink in Elgin.

And he regularly ventured from his Aberdeenshire home over the Lecht on his motorcycle – whatever the weather conditions – to fulfil his sporting obligations.

Following his death, aged 79, his friends say that continuing the pastime in his 60s showed how Mr Sibbald’s lust for life never left him.

The educator moved from the central belt to Blairdaff, near Monymusk, when he took over as head teacher of Kemnay Academy. That led to him taking the reins of Hazlehead Academy in the 1980s, a post he enjoyed into the following decade.

As well as becoming a familiar face to thousands of pupils, Mr Sibbald was a popular figure among Rotary circles.

He was a well-liked member of Aberdeen’s St Fittick’s group, where he served as president between 2003 and 2004.

His fellow rotarian, George Esson, said he would remember Mr Sibbald as a character of many contradictions, as he explained the diversity of his friend’s passions in life.

Mr Esson said: “As well as being a headmaster of some reputation, and a real educationalist, he was very artistic by nature.”

Another of the former headmaster’s most notable passions was for vintage Mercedes cars – and he devoted hours to bringing old motors back to life.

Mr Esson added: “He had a large garage which was filled to the roof with veteran cars, and he always had a Mercedes, usually one from either the pre-war or post-war era.

“He would redevelop these cars of some vintage. All things Mercedes were of interest to him. He would see old car parts, which others might view as scrap, as replacement parts.”

As part of the St Fittick’s Rotary Club, Mr Sibbald and Mr Esson would help out with the running of the Great Inverurie Bike Ride.

About 10 years ago, Mr Sibbald moved from the north-east to see out his twilight years in Spain.

He died peacefully there, surrounded by his family, following a short illness and was buried there.

He is survived by his wife, Christina, son Alexander and daughter Barbara.

Mr Sibbald also leaves behind grandchildren Steven and Elsie, and great-granddaughter Lauren.

WARMLY REMEMBERED: Former Aberdeen head teacher Alex Sibbald