Former Dundee University lecturer Dr Albert William (Bill) Harding, who enjoyed a long academic career in research, writing and local history, has died aged 81.
A descendant of Janet Keiller, the Dundee inventor of marmalade, Dr Harding was born in Panbride. Moving to Perth as a young boy he was educated at the Caledonian Road School and then at Perth Academy.
He spent his early years in the Boys’ Brigade and Territorial Army emulating a long family history in The Black Watch.
In 1948, Dr Harding began studying history at Aberdeen University and in 1952 began a postgraduate degree at St Andrews University, often working on archeological digs in central Scotland.
He began work as a teacher at Stobswell Boys’ School in Dundee and then at Kinross High School.
Maintaining his interest in military history, he undertook over 1000 literary book reviews for the Soldier Magazine for almost 30 years
He went on to gain a BA from London University and a BEd and MEd in history from St Andrews.
In the 1960s he became a history teacher at Perth Academy and in 1965 went to Kenya and Zambia for six months as schools inspector.
From the mid 1960s until the 80s, he worked at Dundee University as principal lecturer in history.
He graduated from Glasgow University with an MSc and followed this up with a PhD from Dundee University in 1976 and in 1979 he returned to Glasgow to graduate with an MLitt from the department of Celtic studies.
Dr Harding, who lived in Perth, is survived by his wife Ann McLaren, who he married in 1954, and their three children Susan, Simon and Jane and six grandchildren.