Jimmy Farquhar

Forfar Athletic officials past and present and all supporters will be saddened by the news of the death on Wednesday past of our Club President Jimmy Farquhar in Lisden Home in Kirriemuir where he had spent the last few months.

Jimmy, a bachelor was first and foremost a gentleman who had spent most of his life in the ‘toonie.’

He was a partner with his great friend Dave Balfour prior to his passing, in Alexander Bain’s in West High Street who were originally joinery contractors.

However, under Jimmy’s guidance, they became well established as Funeral Directors in the town.

Jimmy through his quiet but reassuring demeanour and organisational ability was such a comfort for decades to many families in Forfar and beyond at such a sad time in their lives.   Jimmy always said he was just doing what he was paid to do but he certainly made a superb job of it.

Eventually, after many years serving the community that he loved, he decided to sell the company and a well deserved and thankfully as it turned out lengthy retirement beckoned.

Jimmy was a lifelong supporter and benefactor to the ‘Loons’ and was eventually persuaded to become a Director in 2005.  

He went on to become Vice Chairman in 2009, assuming the role of Club President in April of 2016.

Following that appointment, Jimmy also continued to serve as an active Board Member until a couple of years back.

Jimmy loved his involvement over his time on the board at Station Park and despite on his own admission not by then being in the first flush of youth, he ploughed all his energies into many fundraising projects and was certainly on a personal level a great supporter of them all.

He without a doubt enjoyed the boardroom banter especially at many of the away fixtures, in particular, it has to be said at Brechin and Arbroath as well as Queens Park at our own level.

He also thoroughly enjoyed visiting McDiarmid Park in the company of a few of his fellow Athies Directors on occasions to watch Saints in Premier League action, again enjoying the ambience of the Perth side’s boardroom.

Away from Station Park Jimmy was an Honorary Member and supporter of Strathmore Cricket Club for well over half a century and was a ‘weel kent’ face at Lochside Park on match days when time permitted.

He took great pride in having been a close friend of the legendary Nigel Hazel throughout the Bermudan professional’s five-decade stay in the town.

A busy man he was a  highly respected figure in Masonic circles throughout Scotland and was a Past Master and member of many years standing of Lodge the Bruce at Friockheim.   He was also an office-bearer of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Forfarshire and the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Another passion was the Forfar Instrumental Band of which he had been an able performer in his younger day, while he played an active part for many years in the affairs of St. Margaret’s Church.

In retirement, he enjoyed travelling throughout the UK and most certainly beyond with a host of friends and acquaintances.

Although his Canadian roots meant that he was an ‘adopted’ son of the town, Jimmy who will be so sadly missed around Station Park, will be remembered by many who will mourn his passing as a true and loyal Forfarian and more importantly a valued and very generous friend to all who had the pleasure to know or meet him.

A final thought.   It is ironic and sad that due to the current restrictions in place that the man who organised so many funerals large and small in the town will not get the send-off he so richly deserved himself.