A much loved teacher who inspired hundreds of youngsters from across the globe has died at the age of 88.
John Dow was a joiner’s son from Cove who rose to become a house master at Robert Gordon’s College after serving his national service with the Royal Engineers and a Major with the TA Combined Cadet Force.
A childhood interest of sport was further developed during his time in the army and so, on de-mobbing, he decided to take up an offer of a place of study at Woolmanhill – a year-long crash-course in teaching physical education which he completed in 1950.
It was around about this time Major Dow met his future wife May, at a dance in Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom.
She said she remembers meeting him before he asked if she would like to get a cup of coffee, because “he was no good at dancing”.
The couple were married in 1954 whilst Major Dow was now working as an assistant to the games master at Robert Gordon’s College.
The pair went on to have four children, Peter, Gill, Mairead and Lachlan – and now have seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
In 1974 the couple took on the role of running the college’s boarding house on Albyn Terrace – a role which they both found very rewarding.
Sillerton house could accommodate up to 54 boys at any one time and Mrs Dow said she thinks in the 15 years spent living there more than 800 pupils passed through their care.
Mrs Dow said it was a job they both loved. “It was a really happy house,” she said.
Mrs Dow remembers children coming from all over the world to live with them, and sometimes had to collect children at the airport, often taking along the family’s spaniels, adding: “The boys all thought it was a home from home – it was full of characters and we had some lovely memories of that time.”
Mr Dow led the college’s Combined Cadet Force, rising to the rank of Major and receiving the MBE in 1988 for services to the military.
But he is perhaps most remembered for his rugby connection – as he became a key figure in the sport through the college not only playing for Gordonians, but also becoming a coach and referee for Division One games.
He even acted as touch referee for two International matches at Murrayfield in 1968 and 1972 against New Zealand.
When he retired from the school in 1989, Major Dow took on more of a role within the Rotary Club in Aberdeen and ran the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) annual camps held in Abernethy.
Major and Mrs Dow were also among the first to volunteer at the Gordon Highlanders Museum when it re-opened in 1997 – with John guiding visitors around the attraction and May helping in the tea-room.
Lieutenant General Sir Peter Graham of the Gordon Highlanders, yesterday paid tribute to John as a “wonderful people person” who “knew everybody and would do anything to help”, adding: “He will be sadly missed.”
Simon Mills, head of Robert Gordon’s College also spoke of his sadness at the news of his death and added: “John was respected by many pupils and families in the city.”
Daniel Montgomery, Contingent Commander, Robert Gordon’s College CCF said: “He was known by everyone as Major Dow. His contribution to development of the CCF was immense and did not miss a single annual camp in all that time.
“He will be remembered for a very long time.”
