Former Blairgowrie High School assistant rector Donald Saunders

Donald Saunders, a former assistant rector of Blairgowrie High School, has died aged 84.

Mr Saunders joined the school in 1976 as a technical education teacher following a 25-year career in Dundee City Police.

The son of a fireman, he was born in the former Broughty Ferry fire station in Brown Street in 1926.

Educated at Logie Secondary School, Mr Saunders celebrated his 13th birthday on the day the second world war broke out and he joined the Navy’s Fleet Arm during the conflict, serving as an aircraft mechanic.

He joined Dundee City Police in 1948 and married Helen in 1951.

Instrumental in setting up the driving school at Tulliallan police training college, Mr Saunders trained as a teacher at Dundee College of Education before his appointment at Blairgowrie High.

Mr Saunders retired in 1991 and was a long-term member of Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association in Broughty Ferry.

Mr Saunders is survived by Helen, son Donald, daughters Joyce and Aileen and six grandchildren.