A ‘true gent’ newspaper photographer has passed away at the grand age of 100.
John Murdoch, of Coylton, was a ‘weel kent’ lensman all across Ayrshire, capturing precious moments at hundreds of school, club and community events for over 40 years.
Better known as ‘Farmer John’ due to his working life on the family farm at Ochiltree, John was also always in demand to cover the region’s many agricultural shows.
But the snapper - who was still taking photos up until the age of 93 - surprisingly didn’t get into business until nearly 50 years of age.
Niece Moira Roxburgh said: “He was a farmer all his days - he was born at the farm and worked there with my dad but his real passion was the photos.
“He started taking them as a hobby and then went into agricultural shows, for the papers, weddings, family events.
“He loved going out and about. He got so well known for being in the villages and communities.
“He was almost 50 [when he started] and he managed to fit it in with the farm.
“He was still taking pictures up until 93 and had went over to a digital camera and was emailing pictures into the Ayrshire Post and Cumnock Chronicle - which not many 90-year-olds could work a laptop.”
Nieces Moira, Liz, and Eleanor and nephew David were roped into posing in many photos over the years, popping on their best smiles when attending community events with ‘second dad’ uncle John.
Moira said: “He was always there - he just seemed to be like another dad on the farm.
“He just always seemed to be there with a camera, and we were quite often the subjects.
“Quite often we’d go with him if he was going to an agricultural show.
“I can remember there’s a photograph of me with a great huge rhubarb leaf and I remember him saying ‘just bring a dress up and we’ll get you a picture with that,' and I ended up in the Cumnock Chronicle.
“We had to learn to pose quite early on.”
A bad car crash some 20 years ago saw John and family sell the farm, with John and late wife Jean moving to Coylton, where John lived up until his passing.
“Thankfully he was able to live there right up to the end,” said Moira.
“And the fact his mind was still there - you’d have a total conversation with him - but it was just his body that gave up in the end.”
John was showered with cards and gifts last July to mark his 100th birthday - a celebration which Moira says the family are so glad they were able to mark together.
She said: “We were so glad he got his 100th birthday celebration last year.
“Almost 100 birthday cards came in and presents from local community groups.
“He was so well liked that everybody said the same thing that he was a true gent.
“When people say that it makes me smile, and think how proud I am that that was him and he was my uncle.
“I don’t think anybody would have a bad word for him.”
John’s funeral will be held on Monday, February 27 at 2pm at Masonhill Crematorium.
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