Smiling broadly, John Buchan looks every inch the proud father as he escorts his daughter on her wedding day.
But just weeks after this happiest of occasions, the popular fish company boss is now critically ill in hospital following a horror smash on a north-east road.
Mr Buchan was airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after he suffered serious injuries in the head-on crash.
Cruden Bay pensioner William Duthie was killed in the tragedy which happened just before 7am on Wednesday on the busy A90 Peterhead-Aberdeen commuter route.
Mr Buchan, from Peterhead, gave away his daughter Stephanie at her wedding to fiance Michael Campbell just last month.
A family friend said: “Everyone is just in complete shock. We’re all praying that he pulls through.”
Relatives of the 48-year-old, a director of marine fishing company Mackinko, declined to speak yesterday.
It is understood he is a grandson of renowned local poet Peter Buchan.
Cruden Bay pensioner William Duthie was killed in the tragedy which happened just before 7am on Wednesday on the busy A90 Peterhead-Aberdeen commuter route.
Mr Buchan was driving south in a black BMW X1 when he was involved in the collision with Mr Duthie’s blue Peugeot 508.
Villagers said they were stunned by the death.
The crash has raised fresh pleas for traffic calming measures along the route.
Resident Anthony Wing, whose roadside home is close to where the accident happened, said last night: “I’ve lived here for eight years and we’ve seen three fatal accidents in that time.
” I have no idea what happened with this most recent crash, but it is happening way too often and nothing is being done about it.”
Mr Wing, a representative of the Motorcycle Action Group, said double white lines were needed along the stretch in question.
Other residents living along the route have called for the 60mph limit to be lowered.
In June last year, a woman died after she was hit by a lorry near the scene of Wednesday’s crash.
The 49-year-old was struck by a blue Renault Premium lorry owned by engineering firm Asco after getting off a bus at Stirling Village. She died in hospital the next day.
In May 2008, a 15-year-old schoolgirl was killed in a crash near Peterhead power station.
Police have appealed for any witnesses to the latest incident to get in touch.
The road was closed for several hours while collision accident investigators tried to establish what had happened.
Inspector Ewan Innes, of the roads policing department, believe the crash could have been seen by several witnesses.
Nearby Boddam School was closed until 10am as a result of the accident. Aberdeenshire Council said it was to allow staff and pupils extra time to get to lessons.