Forres community champion James ‘Flicker’ Duncan passes away

A popular family man, volunteer, builder and golfer has died.

James ‘Flicker’ Duncan BEM passed away at Dr Gray’s Hospital aged 79 following a long battle with illness, leaving behind his beloved wife Margaret, sons David and Martin, as well as the community he lived in and served during his happy lifetime.

Margaret said: “Flicker was the most kind-hearted person I ever met. He would give you his last and was very easy to live with … most of the time!”

James was born on August 17, 1945 in St Vincent Street, Glasgow. He was the second of four children to parents Andrew - AKA ‘Baba’ - and Alice. Jessie was the eldest, followed by James, Andy and Brian. Andy passed away 20 years ago, however, Jessie lives in Stockport and Brian in Balmedie.

Baba worked at the airman’s mess at RAF Kinloss as a handyman. Alice was a housekeeper, at the Forres laundry then at Balch’s Tomato farm in Bogton. She passed away aged just 46 from Coronary Thrombosis in 1966.

“Flicker never got over losing his mum at such a young age,” said Margaret.

James picked up the nickname ‘Flicker’ aged just four-years-old when he would struggle to say ‘kick’ so he would use ‘flick’ instead. “It just stuck,” explained his sister Jessie.

Flicker was brought up at 2 St Ronan’s Road, Bogton, an area of Forres then commonly known as ‘Shanghai’.

“He had a happy childhood there,” said Margaret. “They didn't have very much but everyone was the same back then.”

He went to Forres Primary then Academy.

Flicker left school aged 15 to complete a building apprenticeship with David Ross and Sons. He then worked for Wimpey Homes but left the trade to work at the McDermott Yard in Ardersier as a rigger.

After a few years he returned to Forres to work for Ingram Builders, staying in the role for 25 years. After employment, he started out on his own as James Duncan Builders, remaining self-employed until he retired.

“He did all kinds of stone work and still would be if he was fit enough,” remembered Margaret. “He loved his work.”

Flicker loved spending time with his family and spoke highly of his boys David - a training manager - and Martin - a road surfacing worker - both now based in the Stirling area.

Margaret added: “We don’t have any grandkids but Flicker idolised my second cousin’s children Bobby and Louie Fraser. He used to stick his slippers on to go and watch Louie doing his football training at Sanquhar behind our house. The last thing Flicker said to me was “Has he?” after I told him Louie had signed for Forres Mechanics. He was very proud.”

As a younger man, Flicker played football at a regional level, mainly for Forres Thistle but also for Forres Mechanics until he broke his ankle. Later on, he was a committee member at both clubs.

He also played cricket for St Laurence Cricket Club with his brothers and opened the batting for them aged just 16.

Flicker was a life-long member of Forres Golf Club and got his handicap down to single figures.

Margaret said: “He was devastated when he was declared unfit to play six years ago.”

The couple first spoke during a busy dance at the Victoria Hotel on July 10, 1965 when Flicker was 20 and Margaret 16-years-old.

She remembered: “He was going out with a friend of mine from Inverness who asked me to let him know she wasn’t coming. He was good looking - he had hair then - and was well dressed in a suit, white shirt and blue tie. He was a nice guy.

“I ended up with him instead! On our first date he took me to his best pal Roy Fraser’s mum’s cottage near Benromach Distillery.”

The pair were married four years later at St John’s Church, Forres on April 12, 1969.

“It was snowing in the morning,” said Margaret. “All of our family and friends were there. Flicker’s brother Andy was his best man. My bridesmaids were my sister Carol Jablonski and my best friend Anita Kaminski. Our flower girl was Flicker’s niece Shona Rourke.

“It was a very happy day.”

The newlyweds had their reception at the Carlton Hotel then honeymooned in Aberdeen, staying at the Queen’s Hotel.

“We couldn’t wait to get home to our rented house,” said Margaret, “Hazel Cottage on St Leonard’s Road!”

David was born on February 4, 1974. Martin followed on August 15, 1978, both at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. The brothers attended Applegrove Primary School then Forres Academy.

The Duncans lived in Macdonald Drive for 17 years then Flicker built their own house between Anderson Crescent and Sanquhar playing fields over 17 weekends with his friends. The family moved in in 1989.

“He was so proud to have built his own house that he designed himself,” said Margaret. “I was confident it would be ideal as he knew what he was doing. I was delighted too when we moved in!”

Flicker was renowned throughout Forres for his volunteer work.

He was part of Forres Heritage Trust when the Community Asset Transfer of the Tolbooth from Moray Council was completed. He then became chairman of FHT when John Mackenzie stepped down.

He did a lot of work on the fountains at the Sunken Gardens. He built walls and a wishing well at Forres Golf Club. And he also tidied up Cluny Hill Cemetery.

He completed a lot of fundraising for charities and worthy causes, including organising an annual Texas Scramble at Forres Golf Course.

He was also on the committees at Forres In Bloom and Forres Christmas Lights Committee.

Flicker was made a Burgess of Forres and named the town’s Citizen of the Year in 2012.

He was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2019 and attended official garden parties at Holyrood three times.

Flicker’s friend, the Lord-Lieutenant of Moray, Major General Seymour Monro paid tribute to “the leading volunteer and fundraiser in Forres”.

He said: “He also built the steps at Forres War Memorial and left his mark with a cairn at the Whitley Memorial. Having been elected a Burgess of Forres by his peers, I was then pleased to invest Flicker with his BEM - honoured by Her late Majesty - outside the Tolbooth.”

He finished: “Flicker was a wonderful gentleman, always supported by dear Margaret. He was a tremendous example of a generous benefactor to charities and of a hard working volunteer who did so much for the people of Forres and beyond.”