A former Fraserburgh school rector who became a leading light in the community has died following a short illness.
Iain Rankin, 77, who was also the chairman of the port’s lifeboat organisation, moved to the area in 1980 to take up the role at Fraserburgh Academy.
He went on to become involved in a number of groups and clubs which helped promote the town and its activities.
As well as serving as a scout leader, he gave up his time to assist with the Fraserburgh Heritage Society, Buchan Heritage Society, and the former Fraserburgh Forward group.
He was also the chairman of the Fraserburgh Futures Partnership, a coordinator of the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, and was responsible for organising the town’s bonfire and fireworks displays for well over 20 years.
Last night, close friends remembered him as a kind and caring man.
Victor Sutherland, the coxswain of Fraserburgh Lifeboat, said Mr Rankin had helped him through a number of problems in his time with the group.
“The help that he gave the station over the years was invaluable,” he said.
“He will be a big, big miss to all of the RNLI family.
“We’re very sad that we’ve lost him and he’ll be very hard to replace.
“Both on a professional and personal level I got a lot of advice from Iain over the years.”
Online, former pupils described him as “one of the greatest”.
Another added: “I’m sure he taught and helped an awfully lot of other people, he will be greatly missed.”
Mr Rankin’s work with charities and groups across the north-east was officially marked in 2013, when he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
When he died, he had spent more than half his life serving the community.
He had earlier served as deputy rector at Wick High School.
Fraserburgh Scout leader Jim Kirkwood said his friend was a “true gentlemen” who went above and beyond what was required of him.
“Iain got started in the scouts while he lived in Glasgow, before moving to Fraserburgh,” he added.
“And he’s been involved in all my time with them. He did a lot of work and never stopped helping people – if any organisation in the north-east needed something he would be there.
“There’s a lot of kids who now have important jobs because of his influence.
“He’ll be a big miss for us and for Fraserburgh.”
