To many Dundonians, Trefor Williams was the public face of DC Thomson, greeting them as doorman at the company’s offices at Meadowside.
Mr Williams, who died this week aged 69, was also the company’s Santa Claus, dressing up each year to help raise funds for charity.
Born and educated in Huddersfield, he entered into military service at the age of 15, joining the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.
It was a family tradition as both his brothers saw service, one with the army and the other in the navy.
During a period of leave, with his siblings both on tours of duty, he accompanied one brother’s wife on a life-changing journey north to visit her friend in Dundee.
That friend was wife-to-be June, with Mr Williams later confiding that he had known within three days that he had found the woman he would marry.
Eighteen months later the couple’s wedding took place at St Vincent’s Church in Dundee and Mr Williams soon moved to the city after leaving the army.
He found work at DC Thomson and was based at Bank Street and Meadowside, eventually becoming doorman at the latter.
In all, he spent 39 years working for the company.
“He was a wonderful husband and father and a friend to many,” June said.
“He enjoyed going to the gym to stay fit, listening to classical music and reading and he had a great sense of humour.”
Mr Williams is survived by his wife June, his daughter Michelle and son Trefor.