John Crole, a prominent businessman in Blairgowrie and Rattray, has died in Blairgowrie Cottage Hospital. He was 69 and had been ill for some time.
Mr Crole was the sixth and youngest member of the family of Walter and Isabella Crole, of Rattray, where he spent his childhood.
He was a former pupil of Rattray Primary and Blairgowrie High schools.
He started an apprenticeship in 1956 as a compositor with the Blairgowrie Advertiser in Reform Street and in 1964 moved to D C. Thomson and Co Ltd, Dundee, where he worked on the production of the Evening Telegraph and then the Scots Magazine.
After 29 years there he left in 1995 and he and his wife Linda acquired the business of Mitchell’s Newsagent in High Street, Blairgowrie. He remained proprietor until his death.
Mr Crole was noted as an accomplished drummer. He started as a young boy with his brother Walter in Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Pipe Band, then over many years he played in several bands, including skiffle, but most notably with the Martin Hayes Broadcasting Band and later the modern group, Driftwood, playing at a variety of functions throughout the country.
Mr Crole was also a member of Blairgowrie Cricket Club during its most successful years, and was a member of the teams who won the Strathmore Cricket Union Championship in 1965 and the Three Counties Cup in 1972 and 1974.
Mr Crole also had a great interest in football and, after a brief spell with Burrelton Rovers AFC, was for many years a player and committee member of Smedleys AFC, continuing with the club when it was reformed as Rattray AFC. He served for several years as the club president, and on Saturday both teams observed a silence before the club’s home match.
He was also a keen golfer and played regularly until recently.
As a local businessman Mr Crole was an active member of the committee of Blair Concern which organised Blair Live! Days in August with guests from the cast at Edinburgh Military Tattoo. He also helped organise Town Hall concerts.
Mr Crole is survived by his wife Linda, son Iain and daughter Jillian, and five grandchildren.
A funeral service at Perth Crematorium on Monday was conducted by the Very Rev Kenny Rathband, and attended by many friends and representatives of the town’s business, sporting, music and entertainment interests.