Funeral arrangements have been made for a north-east community stalwart who died last week.
Roger Goodyear, the “driving force” behind the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at Portsoy, died peacefully at Roxburghe House in Aberdeen after being diagnosed with cancer weeks earlier.
Friends and colleagues described the 74-year-old as an “exceptionally kind-hearted man” and organisers vowed that this year’s boat festival would serve as an homage to him.
Mr Goodyear will be laid to rest on Friday at Portsoy Cemetery, following a celebration of his life at the town’s Church of Scotland at 1.30pm.
He leaves behind his wife June and children Adrian, Gavin, Jill and John, along with six grandchildren.
People who wish to make donations have been asked to pledge their support to Roxburghe House and Maggie’s Centre in Aberdeen at the church door.
Mr Goodyear lived in the region for more 25 years and was responsible for expanding the Portsoy Boat Festival into the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival.
The father-of-four began helping with proceedings at the annual maritime celebration in 2000 and oversaw its growth into an international event.
He was co-chairman of Portsoy Community Enterprise, and also led the Banffshire Tourism Partnership before joining the board of Visit Aberdeenshire when the groups merged.
Mr Goodyear’s efforts at promoting the region to the rest of the world were recognised in 2015 when he was made an MBE for his services to tourism in Banffshire.
