The funeral of a long-serving North-east Scotland-based BBC journalist, Robert Duncan, is taking place in Aberdeen tomorrow.

Duncan - who died in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, aged 76, after suffering a severe stroke two weeks ago - had worked in newspapers in Rhodesia before being hired by Arthur Binnie for the BBC in Aberdeen in the early 1980s.

After retiring from the BBC, Duncan continued to freelance as a sports journalist and also handled PR for some Aberdeen-based organisations.

Former BBC newsman Eric Crockhart said: “I fondly remember Bob as a newsman of the 'old school'. It was Bob who initiated a newspaper cuttings system for BBC Radio Aberdeen, and brought some rigour to the system of keeping useful audio from stories on quarter-inch tape so that it could be used in later developments of the same story.

“He was quietly efficient and had a dry sense of humour. This manifested itself in a delight in making up nicknames for people based on either their characteristics or some left-field association suggested to Bob by their names.

“He will be greatly missed, and remembered with affection by all those who worked with him.”

Aberdeen journalist, Hamish Mackay, added: “He was very highly respected for his journalistic abilities; his innate decency, humanity and overwhelming courteousness; and his total dedication in helping youngsters learn the craft of radio broadcasting.

“Just weeks ago, he was mourning the death of his brother-in-law, noted Aberdeen journalist and author, Norman Adams, and a beautifully written obituary which he penned was carried by Scottish daily newspapers.”

The funeral will be held at Aberdeen Crematorium tomorrow at 1.35pm. Robert is survived by wife and son, Roddy.