Tribute: John Mackenzie Forres community champion and businessman
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A FORMER burgess of Forres, citizen, business and family man has passed away aged 88.
John Mackenzie, whose family established local ironmongery Mackenzie and Cruickshank (M&C) in 1881, leaves behind his wife Margaret (Meg), daughter Susan and sons David and Euan, as well as a community grateful for all he has done for the town.
Meg said: "John inspired others but cared not for who got the praise, as
long as the job got done and the town benefited.
“I never ceased to be amazed by his ideas, modesty, kindness and sense
of humour.”
John was born on May 24, 1934 in South London where his mother had trained as a nurse.
John was educated in Forres and at Gordon’s College, Aberdeen. He left
school to help in the family business, then, in the 1950's was called up for national service in the Royal Marines.
He considered emigrating to Australia but, after meeting Meg, decided to
stay in Forres and work in the family business. John’s grandfather, John
Mackenzie senior, had planned moving M&C from rented premises at 74
High Street to their stores at 111 High Street, but WW1 put paid to that.
John’s father, George Mackenzie, wanted to carry out his father’s plan, but WWII stopped the move. John, (slightly apprehensive!), finally moved the shop to the premises where Wrights Home Hardware are now based, in 1963.
John and Meg appreciated the hard work and loyalty of their staff, many of whom spent most of their working lives working for M&C.
John and Meg retired in 1997 and the business finally passed out of the Mackenzie family hands after 116 years.
Outside business, John devoted his life to the Forres community. As a
young man, he volunteered as an assistant Scout Leader. Men now in their seventies still talk of the wonderful years they had in Scouting with John as ASL.
He stood for Forres Town Council four or five times, topping the poll each time.
After Forres Town Council was dissolved in the 1970s following local
government reorganisation, he served on Forres Community Council,
including as chairman, with his last term of office ending in 2013.
John was chairman of the town’s annual Scottish Week and created events such as the Riding of the Marches. He also helped organise massed pipe bands in a Beating the Retreat ceremony to mark the end of Scottish Week.
John and local businesswoman, Florrie, raised funds to help form Forres
and District Pipe Band in 1966. John was chairman of the band for many years.
During the 1960's John and Provost Forbes represented the town council while visiting the Houses of Parliament to lobby MPs in opposition to the proposed Beeching closure of the Aviemore-Forres branch railway line.
John was a member of the town’s bypass committee, which campaigned
for the building of the present bypass. To celebrate the opening, he
organised the Tin Hat rally - which evolved into the present annual Theme Day.
John also chaired the Shopkeeper’s Association that helped keep the High Street branch of the Co-op open. At a public hearing, against a legal Reporter sent from Edinburgh by the Coop, he argued the case for the Coop remaining in the High Street, and won. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace and, in 1994, a Burgess of Forres.
In 2009, he called a public meeting that resulted in the forming of Forres
Heritage Trust. The volunteer group took over the running of the Tolbooth and Nelson's Tower from Moray Council.
Trust chairman, George Alexander, was a great friend and admirer.
He said: "John was a gentleman with a keen eye for justice.
"Moray Council's announcement in 2010 that it was planning to cease using the Tolbooth and to board it up, was like a red rag to a bull. John set the wheels in motion to get the building into local ownership and save it from closure.
"John has also played a major role in defending the right to free parking in Forres."
John played the accordion, ukulele and harmonica, and sang in the Culbin Singers for many years.
In his youth, he was a member of the Moray Mountaineering Club, cycling and youth hostelling through the Highlands and islands.
John kept and rode horses and was happiest with a dog at his side.
He also loved old cars and lorries, and avidly read the Exchange and Mart, looking for "keen dealies".
John's sharp intellect was coupled with a wide ranging general knowledge.
His friend Ross Dalziel knew John nearly all his life.
He said: "John went to a local private school but he became a good friend again when he joined my class in primary when we were about 11.
"He was great company and always generous. He helped me if I needed
help and I helped him with his cars and other things. I will miss him."
