A towering figure of the north-east who was honoured for his services by both the Queen and the French government has been remembered as “the best father, grandfather and husband”.
Andrew Armstrong OBE – soldier, actor, oil and gas manager and chairman of a host of local societies and organisations – who has died, aged 86, has left behind an extraordinary list of achievements.
His vast and varied life took him from the armed forces to the Commonwealth Games, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo to the North Sea offshore industry and even a Haddo House amateur dramatic society.
Mr Armstrong was born in Glasgow to Northern Irish parents from Belfast in August 1929 and was educated at the Glasgow Academy before joining the army straight from school.
He served in Japan, Singapore and Malaysia as a parachutist before moving back to his home country to live in Edinburgh.
In his home city, he met his future wife, Rhoda, whom he married in 1959 before the couple moved north to Aberdeen in 1974 as the city was on the brink of the oil and gas boom.
It was here, in the West End of the city, where the Armstrongs based themselves and raised their family of four children – Stephen and Peter Armstrong, Susan Penley and Jennifer Halliday.
Mr Armstrong secured a job at Total Oil Marine after moving to the north-east and gradually worked his way up to deputy district manager at the firm before his retirement in 1993.
He was instrumental in implementing Aberdeen’s Total French School, leading to the awarding of the prestigious Chevalier de l’Orde National du Meritte from the French Government in 1989.
He was heavily involved as an honorary secretary of the Episcopal church’s diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney and, for a time, was chairman of the Robert Gordon University.
He also served as director of the North East of Scotland Music School, the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, Univation, the Scottish Qualifications Authority and the National Council for Vocational Qualifications.
Furthermore, he was the director of Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization (Opito Ltd), Cogent SSC Ltd and was the chairman of the fundraising committee for the Aberdeen International Football Festival.
In 1990, his achievements in the offshore industry led to the awarding of an OBE.
In his personal life, he was a keen aficionado of sport, including rugby and football.
His daughter, Ms Penley of Newtonhill, said: “He got married to my mum in 1959, he left the army in 1970 and was involved with the (Edinburgh) Commonwealth Games.
“He also commentated at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
“When he worked with Total, he was recognised by the French government for creating relationships between the French and the UK oil and gas industries.”
She said he managed to juggle his numerous commitments by working on “evenings and weekends”, adding he was a “workaholic”.
Ms Penley added: “He loved what he did. At Haddo House, he was part of their amateur dramatic society and performed in plays for a while.
“Everyone knew him. He was just the best dad and grandfather and a loving husband. He loved rugby and was really into it. He took his children and grandchildren to Murrayfield.
“The words everyone described him as – whether they were colleagues, family or friends – was a true gentleman. Everyone had a kind of respect for him. he was one of a kind.”
Four years ago, Mr Armstrong was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and become seriously unwell six weeks ago. He died on March 25.
He is survived by his wife, his children and 14 grandchildren.
