The partner of a “Montrose legend” who died of cancer have been left overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity in his name.
Well-known music and football fan Neil ‘Tattie’ Taylor died in February 2017 aged 56 following a short illness.
His funeral, held in Montrose Town Hall was attended by hundreds of people.
A minute’s applause was also held by Montrose FC following his passing to pay tribute to someone the club described as “a really great guy”.
Mr Taylor’s partner Susan McRobbie said he was “a one-off” and “a remarkable man” and his family and friends were all proud to have been part of his life.
She said: “Neil was diagnosed on January 13 and his friend Pat Riach organised a Just Giving page to raise money to provide Neil with alternative therapies to treat his cancer.
“In the space of that weekend over £20,000 was raised.
“Neil sadly passed away three weeks later and the money raised has been donated to many causes including the Maggie’s Centre in Dundee and Ward 11 at Ninewells Hospital.
“At the funeral over £3,500 was raised and the money was given to Montrose Music Festival who have set up a trust fund in his name which will provide grants to local youngsters who need financial help with funding lessons or buying instruments.”
TattieFest 2018 was held at the Black Abbot in Montrose on the first anniversary of his passing and the bar and lounge came alive to the sound of bands including Kinnaber Junction, Headroom and Restless Natives in Mr Taylor’s honour.
Susan added: “The weekend was in memory of Neil and was organised by his friends, most notably Wayne and Evie Hall and Stuart Thornton.
“Almost every band performing knew Neil and had a story to tell about him.
“We have all been overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity in his name.”
The weekend event raised £6,517 for pancreatic cancer research and she said they have been inundated with requests to hold the charity weekend again next year.
Susan said pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer death, causing 5% of all cancer deaths each year but has attracted little research funding in comparison with many other cancers.
“By raising awareness of pancreatic cancer and money for research into early detection we hope that it helps to spare others from going through what Neil went through,” she said.
Mr Taylor was raised on a farm in the Mearns and later Montrose.
In 1979 he started working as a trainee at the Ship’s Agency Department of JM Piggins, which later changed its name to Piggins & Rix and then Rix Shipping (Scotland) Limited.
He was employed by the company for 37 years.
