Funeral date set for Inverness councillor

Relatives, friends and colleagues will pay their final respects to Inverness councillor John Ford on Friday next week.

His funeral has been arranged for 1.30pm at the city’s Old High Church. He will be laid to rest at Kilvean Cemetery after the church service.

The Labour councillor, who was 85, died unexpectedly last month while on holiday in the Channel Isles.

The County Durham-born former electrical engineer and trade unionist represented the Culloden and Ardersier ward for 13 years.

His family said he had died in his sleep while staying at a Jersey hotel that he and his late wife Brenda visited many times.

Colleagues across the board have spoken of their deep sadness at his loss.

Mr Ford is survived by three sons, Rob, Richard and Michael, and five grandchildren – Lucy, Helen, Danny, Emily and Harvey.