George McKenzie dedicated his life to educating generations of Moray youngsters.
He began as a maths teacher but is perhaps best known as rector of Buckie High School – a post he held for more than 20 years.
Born in Lossiemouth in 1927 Mr McKenzie, who has died at the age of 92, was the eldest of four children and the son of a local fisherman.
They were roots that stayed with him throughout his life.
Before embarking upon a teaching career, he enlisted as a civilian scientific officer with the RAF in 1951 and served in Norfolk.
His first position in the classroom was at Gordon’s College in Aberdeen, during which time he met and married his wife Nan, with whom he later had two daughters.
In 1957 he was appointed principal teacher of maths in Grantown before holding the same position at Elgin Academy.
Mr McKenzie remained in the classroom there until he was appointed rector at Buckie High School in 1966, holding the position until 1987.
Throughout his teaching career he was a strong advocate of students participating in extra-curricular activities – regularly running expeditions to the Cairngorms, swimming competitions and encouraging the formation of Radio Buckie by pupils in 1975.
His own passion for golf encouraged pupils to take up the sport and he was captain of Buckpool Golf Club four times, most recently in 1996.
He held senior positions with the Speymouth Bridge Club in Fochabers and the Banffshire Bridge League.
And activities with Buckie Rotary Club led to him being appointed president in 1974.
Mr McKenzie was also a Justice of the Peace from 1988 until 1997 and a regular attendee at the Probus Club until it was forced into abeyance due to the coronavirus pandemic.
His family say that despite his many activities he always devoted time to his wife, daughters Helen and Susan and his five grandchildren.
