Well-known Dundee solicitor Ross Paton, described as the life and soul of any party, has died aged 71.
Born James Kinross Paton but known as Ross, he died suddenly on October 13 at his adopted home of Insh.
Raised in the West End before later moving to Broughty Ferry, he was educated at the High School of Dundee .
He was a member of the school’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and became pipe sergeant in the pipe band.
He also played rugby at school and for Dundee High FP as an adult.
Mr Paton attended Dundee University and read Law, whilst a member of the University’s Officer Training Corps (UOTC), again playing in the pipe band.
He qualified as a solicitor at Shiell & Small in Dundee before joining J&J Scrimgeour on Bell Street.
In the early 1980’s he joined the Fiscal Service, initially in Perth before becoming Depute Procurator Fiscal for Dundee.
Remaining in this post until 1988, he then joined Shield & Kyd as a partner, managing the Arbroath office for 25 years until the merger with Lindsays LLP.
His career took him to the Dundee office in Bank Street and he retired as a partner in 2013/14, remaining as a consultant at the firm until December 2017 in their new Seabraes office.
His family say he was known to many and respected by all both professionally and personally.
Those who knew him say he was the life and soul of any social event.
His military experience saw him rise to become acting major in the 51st Highland Volunteers A Company (Black Watch).
A religious man, he held the role of Session Clerk at Roseangle Ryehill Church (now Dundee West) on Perth Road for 40 years, retiring in December 2019.
He was also in the choir for 55 years. Previously, both his parents had sung in the same church choir for 40 more than years.
He was vice president of Dundee Choral Union for just under 20 years and a member of the choir (bass section) for 50 years while also holding a number of other prominent rules including deacon of the Bonnetmakers.
He was also past president at both the Dundee Round Table and High School of Dundee Old Boys Club as well as a member of Dundee Rotary Club (various committees) and chairman of Tayside Solicitors Property Centre.
Predeceased by his first wife Glenys in 2011, who he married in 1979, he is survived by children David and Susie and three grandchildren. His other son Andrew passed away aged 13.
He leaves behind Kate who he married in 2018.