An Aberdeen man who showed his Christian spirit by bringing help and comfort to Indian sailors marooned at Aberdeen harbour for more than a year will take his first steps towards becoming a Roman Catholic priest this week.
On Saturday, 65-year-old Doug Duncan will have the office of “acolyte” bestowed upon him at a Mass at St Columba’s church in Bridge of Don- a stepping stone to the priesthood ahead of formal training in the Vatican.
Mr Duncan, a part of the Apostleship of the Sea chaplaincy, hit the headlines following the Malaviya Seven ordeal that gripped the north-east.
A routine inspection in June last year revealed the Indian ship’s 12-man crew had not been paid in months after the company they worked for went into liquidation.
But in September, permission was granted by Aberdeen Sheriff Court for the Malaviya Seven to be sold in order to recoup the wages owed to the crew- with the last sailor flying home last month.
During their time, Mr Duncan paid numerous visits to the crew bringing them supplies and even took them to a Dons game at Pittodrie.
But the journey to God has been a long-one for widower Mr Duncan, who said it all started with a traffic accident on the B9104 Fochbers to Spey Bay road in 1993.
He said: “My wife, son Daniel and I were out cycling on a Saturday morning, when I hit a pothole and went head over heels, landing on my arm.
“Within minutes of this happening the first vehicle to come along the very quiet road was the local doctor’s wife from Fochabers, who phoned her husband who again within minutes was at the scene. It was as if it was meant to happen.
“In 2010 my wife Denise developed a brain tumour and passed away a year later. My faith saw me through it.”
Following the bereavement, Mr Duncan began the long path to a life in the church with the Apostleship of the Sea.
He said: “I really enjoy the work supporting the seafarers as we get a lot of supply ships coming into Aberdeen and the north-east coast. It feels as if I am bringing Christ on board.”
