The wife of Arbroath man John Gillan, who died during Storm Babet, has spoken of her love for the tradesman who went above and beyond for his community and customers.
John, 56, died on Thursday October 19 near Forfar when his van was hit by a tree. The painter and decorator was returning from a job at a farm when the tragedy happened.
Aberdeen-born John, a lifelong Dons fan, had been a painter and decorator for 40 years since leaving Arbroath High School.
For the past three decades he had run his own business, mainly doing work for private customers but also working with other trades on new-built projects.
Family man
Gaynor, speaking ahead of John’s funeral at Parkgrove crematorium, Friockheim, at 11.30am on Monday November 6, described her husband as a committed tradesman, a loving and loved husband, father and grandfather.
“He would go out of his way if a customer phoned and even if he was busy he would find a way to fit them in. He was so committed to the communities in which he worked,” said Gaynor.
“I will miss him so much. The whole family will, our son Marc, his partner Natasha and grandchildren Reygan and Finley. He loved spending time with his grandchildren.
“The only time John took holidays was when we were going away, otherwise he was working, and we had some wonderful times together; city breaks in the likes of Budapest, New York and Prague with friends.
“His favourite destination was Lanzarote, which he called Lanzo. We managed to get away together two or three times a year,” said Gaynor.
“John also loved family get togethers and loved socialising with his close friends.”
John was only nine months old when his parents, Moira and John, moved from their native Aberdeen to Arbroath when his father began working with Scottish Enterprise in Dundee. He had a younger sister, Wendy.
He was educated at Muirfield Primary School, Arbroath, and then Arbroath High School where he took a great interest in music.
John left school aged 16 and began his four-year apprenticeship as a painter and decorator with the firm of Grant of Arbroath.
Marriage
It was at the Smokies nightclub in Arbroath in 1987 that he met Gaynor. They went out for three years and married at St Vigeans Church in 1990. Their son, Marc, was born in 1995.
After his employer ceased business, John set up on his own, working in Arbroath and the wider Angus area.
He was a past season ticket holder at Pittodrie, a follower of Manchester United and also a five-a-side football player in his younger years.
Gaynor said her husband was also an expert on music and loved all genres from the 1980s onwards.
At his funeral donations can made made to children’s charities which John supported.
You can read the family’s announcement here.
Conversation