Black Watch veteran Fred Waters, who was given a £5,000 surprise by Sir Rod Stewart when his 100th birthday party was cancelled, has died.
Fred, who saw action during the Second World War, died one day short of his 102nd birthday.
His birthday celebrations had to be axed two years ago at the height of the first lockdown.
Serenade
But Ali Duthie of Perth and District Pipe Band got police permission to play outside Fred’s home in Bridge of Earn together with NHS worker Gwen McAndrew.
Television cameras turned up and when rocker Rod saw the footage and realised Fred’s party had been cancelled he wept.
He made up his mind to try to bring Fred a little cheer and sent a £5,000 cheque for a post-lockdown party.
Fred’s son Bruce said: “Rod’s agent called and asked for my father’s bank details and naturally I thought it was a scam.
Music
“But he then sent a signed photo of Rod but my dad did not know who he was. I played him a couple of songs down the phone, one of them was Maggie May but he had not heard them.
“My dad did not want to take the money from a stranger but I explained who Rod was. Dad never got the chance to hold the party but he did have a couple of meals with friends.”
Fred, a grandfather of two, had a long career with publisher DC Thomson and retired in 1985.
He was born in Arbroath and after serving as a lance corporal in The Black Watch during the war, went to work on farms in Angus.
After suffering a knee injury he sought a desk job and started with DC Thomson’s costing department, organising newsprint stocks.
In his younger years Fred had been a football player and swimmer and kept fit well into his senior years.
Long walks
He coached swimmers at Perth pool well into his 90s and often walked from his home in Bridge of Earn to the cafe at Perth bus station.
Christine Graham, who runs the cafe with her mother said: “Its was honour to have known him. He was a true gentleman.
“He started coming here as a customer, he became a friend and then he was part of the family.
Sparkle
“Everyone who knew Fred was inspired by him. He could light up the place and had a special sparkle.
“Fred’s carer, Elissa, who was Australian, brought him to the cafe often, did so much for him.”
After Fred’s long walks from Bridge of Earn, Christine, Mary, or other customers would drive Fred home.
Transport
In recent years, Christine or Mary would drive to Fred’s home to collect him.
“We will never make a lot of money from the cafe. It is more like a social centre. We have a lot of older people coming in every day.
“Fred used to write poetry, would recite it here and send a wee card with a message on it. He had been involved in football and could remember former players if they came into the cafe.
Reading
“He never had a television but read a lot and had the most beautiful handwriting.
“He had friends all over the world and used to keep The Courier for several months and send them to people he knew in China.
“Fred was a real people person and one of life’s inspiring characters.”