Colin Sutton, who helped develop the Cairngorms for skiing, has died aged 101.
He was also a hotelier, sports shop and ski school proprietor, and a member of the Cairngorm Trust.
During the Second World War Colin served as a wireless operator with Squadron 77 Bomber Command and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his accuracy and expertise on one particular mission.
Colin was born in Carlisle and came north to Kinloss after the war as an RAF instructor.
During this time he met his future wife, Cath Mackay, whose mother owned Craiglynne Hotel in Grantown-on-Spey.
Colin, who had been a banker before the war, was taken on as hotel manager and found the hospitality trade suited his character.
Together with a business partner, Colin went on to buy over an outfitter in the town and turned it into a sports shop, half owned by David Low Sports of Dundee.
The shop would take time to show a profit and in the meantime, Colin became manager of Nethybridge Hotel.
He soon became a director of the company and his job was extended to take on Cairngorm Hotel, also owned by Aviemore Hotel Company.
His sports shop, Speyside Sports, was trading well and Colin opened a shop in Aviemore, well placed for ski hire.
As well as his busy business life, Colin also served as secretary of Abernethy Golf Club and was the angling association treasurer.
Well into his 80s, he was still leaving home at 8am to open his shop in Aviemore, which eventually had to close because of competition from national chains.
His daughter, Sherie Walker: said: “To me his legacy will always be the role he played in opening up and developing the Cairngorms.
“He was one of 10 or so enthusiastic people who had a vision for what was to come.
“Along with Colonel Grant of Rothiemurchus, Fergus Williamson of Alvie, Major Archie Scott of Dunlnan Bridge, fellow hotelier Alastair MacIntyre of Carrbridge Hotel and other motivated people, they set themselves up as the Cairngorm Winter Sports Development Board in the early 1960s.”
Colin also joined up with another two hoteliers, David Ross and Nigel Grant, who brought in Norwegian students to give skiing instruction.
By 1964, the development board had the funds to build the chairlift up the White lady, which was opened by Princess Margaret. For many years, Colin served as secretary of the Chairlift Company.
Colin spoke little of his wartime service but opened up more towards the end of his life.
Decorated
He was one of seven crew on Halifax bomber and flew 37 missions in the black of night.
On one mission, he was responsible for transmitting vital information back to base and was awarded the DFM.
The citation read: “Flight Sergeant Sutton is an excellent wireless operator who has shown coolness and courage at all times. His outstanding ability and untiring sense of duty has set a magnificent example to the other members of his crew.”
You can read the family’s announcement here.
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