The funeral of north-east business giant Charles Ritchie, the founder of offshore engineering firm Score Group who died this week, will be held on Wednesday.
Mr Ritchie died in the early hours of Wednesday morning, following a short illness.
Tributes to the north-east entrepreneur, who left school with no formal qualifications and went on to build an international business employing 1,700 people, poured in following news of his death.
His son Conrad Ritchie, the managing director of Score Europe, described his father as a driving force behind business in Peterhead and the north-east and a passionate community figure.
He said: “We are trying to come to terms with the loss. Charles was a formidable businessman, mentor and great friend to many.
“He spent his life building the Score Group. He was generous with his time in later life and did everything he could to help his beloved homeland.”
Mr Ritchie’s funeral will be held at the Tufted Duck Hotel in his home village of St Combs on Wednesday, July 5 and then on to Lonmay Cemetery. All friends are “respectfully invited”.
The family has asked that mourners share cars and use the buses provided to travel between the hotel and cemetery.
Flowers will be from the Ritchie family only, but donations in lieu can be given at the door for Crimond Charitable Trust.
Mr Ritchie spearheaded and funded a campaign to build the new medical centre in Crimond, a project which was completed earlier this year.
Ann Bell, the chairwoman of the Crimond Medical Equipment Fund, worked with the Score boss for half a century.
She said: “I knew him as a man of strong opinions and a big heart – a man who expected a lot, but gave a lot. A man with a strong sense of community who for more than 30 years, mainly anonymously, supported Crimond Medical Equipment Fund.”
A pa unionist, Mr Ritchie’s was never quiet about his political positions.
In the wake of his death Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: “Charles was a fervent champion of the north-east and a wonderful example to so many.”
