Hundreds of mourners have paid their respects to a “warm-hearted” Moray journalist who had “stories to match every occasion”.
David Morgan turned his passion for automobiles into an award-winning career as a motoring correspondent during more than 40 years in the newspaper industry.
And he became a popular figure in Forres, where he championed several local causes since moving there more than 35 years ago.
Mr Morgan died suddenly, aged 66, at the end of last month and his life was celebrated in the town on Saturday.
Mourners packed into St Laurence Parish Church to pay tribute to the father-of-two during a memorial service.
Forres councillor, George Alexander, said: “David had a huge band of interests, and he did a lot for Forres.
“He will be a big miss for the town, he did a grand job of promoting the area, as editor of the Forres Gazette.”
Mr Morgan was born in Lossiemouth in 1950, while his father was stationed at the town’s HMS Fulmar naval base – which is now RAF Lossiemouth.
He completed his primary education in Banff when his father’s career took him there, before attending Banff Academy.
Mr Morgan entered the navy after leaving school and worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Aberdeen, but left to pursue a journalism course at Edinburgh’s Heriot Watt University.
Mr Morgan established his reputation as a reporter in the Press and Journal’s Banff district office before returning to Aberdeen as a sub-editor.
He moved back to Moray in 1981 to work as editor of the Forres Gazette, a role he maintained for 20 years.
During that time, he pioneered the annual Theme Day – a classic car show which takes place in the town every Spring.
And he was instrumental in the campaign to secure a Forres bypass.
After establishing his own business, DRM Media, he was able to focus on his passion for writing about cars.
Mr Morgan, a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, won the UK Regional Motoring Writer of the Year award in 2012.
Faced with ill-health over the past two-and-a-half years, Mr Morgan reduced his work commitments – but continued to offer the P&J his insights into the world of aviation when contacted for comment.
Journalist and broadcaster, Alan Douglas, accompanied Mr Morgan on trips around the UK and Europe and forged a strong bond with him.
Mr Douglas said: “I met David in the 1980s, he was a regular driving partner and I ended up spending a lot of time with him and becoming firm friends.
“He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about cars, but he brought that same warm-hearted enthusiasm to many aspects of his life.
“He was full of stories to match every occasion, and I’ve been getting messages from writers all over the UK saying what a nice guy he was.”
Mr Morgan is survived by his wife Rhona, daughter Helen and son Andrew.