Tributes have been paid to a “true gentleman” who spent nearly 40 years driving the rich and famous around Scotland.
Nick Valentine, founder of Aberdeen-based Valentine Chauffeur Drive, was the driver of choice for the likes of Princess Diana, the Queen Mother, Sir Cliff Richard, Billy Connolly, Mikhail Gorbachev and dozens of other stars, royals and international dignitaries.
His wife Ellis yesterday attributed her husband’s professionalism, diligence and charm to his popularity among the high-class visitors to the north-east.
The 57-year-old said: “Nick was a stickler for detail, he always liked his cars – and their drivers – to be very well turned out, he was very particular.
“He drove so many big names over the years, government ministers, high court judges, celebrities, but I think his favourite was Princess Diana.
“He liked her, and drove her all the way from Aberdeen to Balmoral, they got on very well.”
Due to ill health, Mr Valentine had to reluctantly retire at the age of 67.
He handed over the control of his company to long-time friend Graham McIntyre, who described Mr Valentine as a “fantastic person to work with” who would be “sadly missed”.
Mr and Mrs Valentine celebrated their silver wedding anniversary last October, which they toasted at the Banchory Lodge – where they had their first date.
Mrs Valentine said: “He wrote a wee letter to me on Valentine’s day in 1989, signed ‘A Valentine’, which of course he was.
“It took me a couple of months to figure out who he was, but eventually I did and we had our first date at Banchory Lodge, and we celebrated our silver wedding anniversary there just last year on October 14.
“He was one of life’s true gentlemen, and we’ll really miss him a lot.”
Mr Valentine, who battled with dementia and colorectal cancer, died on Tuesday at the age of 75.
As well as his wife, he is survived by mother-in-law Norah and sisters Wyn and Irene.
His funeral will be held at Aberdeen Crematorium’s west chapel on Thursday at 2.55pm.
