Joiner, university lecturer, chairman of Aberdeen Model Engineering Society, author, fiddle-player and family man Ernie Mitchell has died aged 86.
Early life
Ernest Mitchell – affectionately known as Ernie – was born in Strathdon on June 16 1936 to gardener James Mitchell and his wife Catherine.
Brought up in Mar Lodge Estate and later Mintlaw, he would work with his dad when called upon. Treasured memories included helping his father rake the gravel at Balmoral for the Queen visiting.
After leaving school he went to work with Adam Ritchie where he served as an apprentice joiner.
However, a childhood fascination for nature especially newts and all things engineering-based saw him return to education.
At Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh he studied engineering adding a teaching qualification too.
Falling in love
During teacher training Ernie met June Denholm from Aberdeen.
The young couple married on July 17 1964. June went on to teach at Beauly School while Ernie became a technical teacher for Inverness Academy.
Their daughter Heather was born in 1966, and son Calum in 1967. While Calum was still a baby the family relocated to Dundee where Ernie started work at the city’s technical college.
His career progressed and Ernie became a quantity surveying and building economics lecturer at Aberdeen’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture (RGIT) which meant a move back to the Granite City.
Life in Aberdeen
The family moved into Leggart Crescent, then Viewfield Road but Ernie spent most of his life in the city’s Beechgrove Place.
He returned to joinery on a self-employed basis in the 1990s after retiring from lecturing. His meticulous approach earned him a reputation for taking twice as long with an end result “twice as perfect”. Many of his customers became lifelong friends.
Later years
After 47 years of marriage June passed away in 2011. Learning to live on his own, Ernie kept working, took up new hobbies and and in recent years found companionship with his black Labrador, Mollie.
Ernie was natural with all animals and for many years he and his dog attended All Stars Dog Training at Cookney, and Ernie was often seen in his fluorescent jacket walking Mollie around Victoria Park.
Although he never learned as a child Ernie took up fiddle playing. Following in the footsteps of his band leader dad, he joined Scottish Culture and Tradition (SCAT) and enjoyed his time learning and playing each week.
Aberdeen Model Engineering Society
His love of engines never waned. He was the chairman of Aberdeen Model Engineering Society and still loved to attend the group’s meetings and exhibitions.
He was also a digger fanatic, classic car collector and part of a Rolls Royce owners’ club.
A grandad to Gregor, Michael, Hollie and Lauren – who presents a radio show on Northsound – he was often his granddaughter’s on air go-to person if they had difficult questions to answer.
Ernie was also part way through writing a children’s book when he died suddenly, but peacefully, at home on February 16. He was still working until the week before his death.
Calum Mitchell said: “My dad was a kind-hearted, caring and good-natured man. He was person family and friends would always go to, as he was always willing to give advice and guidance no matter what the ask was. His expertise goes with him and his loss will be felt by so many.”
A celebration of his life will take place at the West Chapel of Aberdeen Crematorium on Friday March 3 at 1.15pm.
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