A north-east town has been left saddened by the death of a community stalwart.
George Paterson ran the shoe shop in Ellon for 20 years with his wife Sheena and became a well-respected figure in the town in the process.
Born in Lonmay in 1946, he enjoyed helping his father on the family farm before leaving school in Kininmonth to work at Cleveland Twist Drill in Peterhead.
After the pair met at a dance, he fell in love with and married Sheena in 1968 and the couple subsequently moved to New Deer.
In 1974, they relocated to Ellon where Mr Paterson worked for Barratt’s, tarring roads on new housing estates across the north-east on his Barber Green Tarring Machine.
This led to him receiving the nickname ‘Babbie Dod’, which stuck with him for the rest of his life.
In 1978, he built the house of his dreams on Old Rectory Avenue, which remained his pride and joy for the next four decades and where his wife still lives today.
The couple bought the shoe shop at 16 Station Road, which became simply ‘S & G Paterson – The Shoe Shop’ and where they spent a happy and busy 20 years.
Mr Paterson loved the social side of the shop, sharing stories and sometimes forgetting he was actually supposed to be selling shoes!
Customers came from all over the north-east to the shop, and he was always happy to tell the story of when he sold a pair of trainers to Annie Lennox’s daughter.
He only enjoyed a short spell of retirement before a few years of bad health which resulted in the loss of his right leg above the knee.
He resigned himself to spending most of his time in his wheelchair, but after investing in an electric wheelchair, it gave him a new lease of life.
The duo enjoyed a wonderful holiday in August 2018, their first in 14 years.
In October 2018, they celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary.
He loved home life and the company of family and friends, particularly all his great nieces and nephews.
He died suddenly but peacefully on Monday, February 11.
The funeral service will be held at Ellon Parish Church tomorrow at 12pm, followed by refreshments at the New Inn.
