The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Farewell to ‘Mr Fraserburgh’
Funeral: Broch turns out to pay respects to Henry Duthie for decades of dedication
Youngsters formed a guard of honour to salute as a local luminary made his final voyage through the town he loved.
Henry Duthie was known affectionately as “Mr Fraserburgh”, due to the decades of tireless service he devoted to the north-east community.
He died last week and was laid to rest on Saturday – on what would have been his 97 th birthday.
The “larger than life personality” played an active role in all aspects of life in the Broch and was made an MBE for his services.
He founded the Fraserburgh Junior Arts Society, was a Boys’ Brigade stalwart and chairman of Fraserburgh 400 anniversary celebrations.
The hearse left the chapel at Alexander Buchan and Son’s funeral directors at 10.30am and travelled up
Watermill Road to pass by Gallowhill Terrace.
It then went along West Road and up over Dennyduff Road, past the West Church, before arriving at Kirkton Cemetery.
As it made its poignant passage through the streets, people stepped outside their homes to bid Mr Duthie farewell by applauding.
Next of kin Karen McKillop was “like family” to Mr Duthie and organised the funeral.
She said: “It was a good send-off, it was a sunny day and the preacher Rhoda McDonald did an excellent job of putting together all the information about Henry’s life and everything he did for the town.”
Around 70 boys, leaders and former leaders from across the Buchan Battalion and the 4th Fraserburgh Boys’ Brigade lined the streets while making sure to remain safely distanced.
Captain of the of the group, Martin Dunbar, was among those paying their respects.
Mr Dunbar said: “The number of people who chose to pay their final respects to Henry throughout the town was testament to the type of person Henry was.
“The Boys’ Brigade was well represented and there was a good mix of former boys and officers.
“While the hearse made its way to the cemetery, the Boys’ Brigade were saluting him and there were also people clapping.
“It was just Henry through and through. He had a way of bringing people together. It was a fitting tribute to his life.”