He was the former champion boxer who became a charity stalwart and Arbroath’s citizen of the year.
Now a street in the town’s new housing scheme at Muirlands Park has been named in memory of Doug Ford who died in 2016 following a brave battle with cancer.
A well-respected figure in the town, Mr Ford – who was also a singer with Arbroath’s Rat Pack – organised countless boxing and musical events for charity which raised around £170,000.
Mr Ford’s son Mark travelled to Arbroath from his home in Inverness with his wife Eleanor and children Gemma and Danny to see the street sign for the first time.
Arbroath West and Lunan Independent councillor David Fairweather campaigned to get streets named after Mr Ford and his brother, the late Dave Ford, who founded Arbroath Amateur Boxing Club in 1961, while they were both still fighters.
The brothers dedicated their experience to bringing many young men into competition level and Dave will also get a street named after him later this month.
Mark said: “I fondly remember when I was a boy, my father getting a letter addressed to ‘Mr Doug Ford Esq’.
“He showed me the ‘esquire’ after his name on the envelope and he was so happy to get that title but getting a street named after him would have made him so proud.
“I’m also happy that my uncle Dave is also to get this honour.
“I would like to thank David Fairweather and my cousin Diane for making this happen.”
Doug Ford had 25 bouts as a youth boxer, winning a title and only losing four times.
He also played amateur and junior football and played in goal for the army at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin while stationed in Germany.
As a solo singer and as part of Arbroath’s Rat Pack, Mr Ford used his voice for the good of the town and also spent some of his free time visiting the local care homes and having a song and a dance with the residents.
Always a competitive sportsman, he was a keen and successful golfer and won the James Kirk Trophy, the Co-op Cup, the Four-Ball and the Handicap Cup, all at Elliot Golf Course.
In his time he also had four holes in one, winning the Sunday Post Putter for one of them.
He served his time as a motor mechanic at the Tower Garage, Keptie Street, before finishing his working life at Halliburton, firstly in the fitting shop and latterly in production control.
Mr Ford was awarded Arbroath citizen of the year in 2006 in recognition of his charity efforts which over the years also included organising triathlons, sponsored bike runs and ‘It’s a Knockout’.
He was asked shortly before his death why he decided to dedicate over half a century to the Arbroath community.
Mr Ford replied: “Because I wanted to.”
