Former Arbroath publican Maurice Maitland

Former Arbroath publican Maurice Maitland has died while on holiday abroad.

Maurice Maitland, who was mine host of the Central Bar for 25 years, died just off Lisbon in Portugal on a cruise holiday with his wife Elizabeth.

Mr Maitland was brought up in Kirriemuir and his parents owned the Roods Bar before moving to the Commercial Hotel in Montrose.

On leaving school, Mr Maitland spent three years working at the George Hotel in Harrington before joining the Scots Guard.

His family sold the Commercial Hotel and bought the Central Bar in Arbroath.

Mr Maitland began working there with his family from 1959 before the pub moved and opened again on Brothock Bridge in 1969.

His father died in 1974 and Mr Maitland took over the reins.

He retired in 1999, having spent 40 years working in the pub, 25 as mine host.

Away from the business, Mr Maitland was a keen fisherman and golfer. He also enjoyed playing squash in his younger years.

Married to Elizabeth in 1966, he is survived by his son Ian, daughter Lynne, grand-daughter Catherine and his sister Rae Clark.