Forbes Raeburn (1926 – 2010)

Forbes Raeburn, who ran several butcher shops in Huntly, passed away last Thursday, aged 84.

Last night his son Charles, 51, of Bogie Street, Huntly, paid tribute to “a butcher with a real passion for his work”. He added: “He was always keen to source all of his meat locally and he kept a very close relationship with the region's farming community.

“My father was quite passionate about what he did and his main passions were his business and his family. Even after he entered semi-retirement in the mid-1990s, he still kept a hand in the business.”

The former Gordon Schools pupil, known to many as Fobbie, opened Forbes Raeburn butchers in Bogie Street, Huntly, in 1963 and bought Gordon Rhind butchers, Gordon Street, in 1970, both of which are still run by family members. He was born in Buckie in 1926 and his family moved to Huntly about a decade later.

He and his wife Tibbie, who still lives at the family home in Deveron Road, Huntly, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary two years ago. They travelled the world in recent years.

The popular businessman was an elder of Huntly Parish Church. He was also a keen Robert Burns enthusiast and was known to recite the bard's famous Tam O'Shanter poem at social gatherings.

Mr Raeburn passed away at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, surrounded by family members, following a short illness. In addition to Charles, who has taken over the family business, he is survived by son Billy, 49, daughters Sarah 45 and Kathleen 42, along with 13 grandchildren. His other son Douglas, of Provost Street, Huntly, died after collapsing in the Gordon Street shop two years ago.

A funeral service was held on 4th October at Huntly Cairnie Glass Church.