Peterson, John

April 15th, 2006 by JCB
Posted in Obituaries | 2 Comments »

John (Iain) Robert Cambell Peterson (1936-2006)

There was a great sadness felt by many with the news that Iain Peterson had passed away on the 25^th January 2006. He fought a yearlong battle with cancer showing courage, hope, spirit and dignity, which amazed and humbled all who witnessed his struggle. A memorial service was held for Iain in Dollar Parish Church, to which more than 500 people attended, a mark of the esteem to which Iain was held. The music pieces played before and after the service were Iain’s own compositions. Iain was born on the 11^th December 1934 in Leith. His father, a master mariner, was one of the original Shetland Fiddlers but was sadly lost at sea in 1940. Iain’s mother returned to her native Ardnamurchan where Iain was brought up. He spent his early years at the local village school and then moved to Tobermorry on the Island of Mull to begin his secondary education. It was here that Iain’s appetite for music was kindled anew. Iain completed his secondary education at Keil School in Dumbarton before going to Glasgow University. On leaving university, the British army was Iain’s home for the next two years serving his national service in the Royal Artillery, mostly in Germany. The phrase “call of the sea” may well have been coined for the inhabitants of the Ardnamurchan Peninsular, the most westerly place on the British mainland, as most of the male population went to sea. With the history of seafaring in Iain’s family, it was inevitable he would follow suit joining his first ship the Pacific Unity in 1956. After gaining his 2^nd Mate’s ticket, he was 3^rd Mate on the YOMA (Paddy Henderson), which coincidentally was the ship upon which I did my first trip.

Iain moved to Scottish Ship Management and gained his first command on the Barron Dunmore. He joined the Forth Pilotage as a Grangemouth pilot in 1974 and retired in 1993 through ill health. During his time as a pilot, Iain was well liked and highly respected by all. In an administrative capacity, he served on various committees and was chairman of the Association of Forth Pilots from March 1992 until April 1993. He was instrumental in setting up the first social committee of the Forth Pilots with Norman Sinclair and Iain Rutherford. Those who attended the UKPA’s conference in November 1991 in Edinburgh will remember well the Ceilidh which Iain arranged.

Iain was a keen sportsman, particularly rugby which he played and refereed, something that rubbed off on his sons. He was also an ardent curler and a season ticket holder of his local football team, St Johnston in Perth. Iain was also a keen and competent golfer. He was captain of The Zetland Club which was formed almost 100 years ago by exiled Shetlanders in Edinburgh. Latterly, he played in the senior’s circuit in the Central Belt of Scotland. Iain participated in the pilot’s national annual golfing three-day event, both as a working pilot and a retired one. Iain was an accomplished piper and fiddler and adjudicated at several events. In 2001, Iain was invited to open the Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival which is one of the most prestigious events in the whole of Scotland. In Perth in 2004, Iain was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Accordion & Fiddle Association. In addition to numerous recordings of his music, which is regularly featured on Radio Scotland, he also wrote 15 musical books which have been published. His love of music was recognised internationally. Some years ago I walked into a store in Auckland, New Zealand. The proprietor, hearing my accent, asked me where I was from. When I said Grangemouth, he immediately inquired if I knew Iain Peterson. He had an array of Iain’s music for sale.

Iain, it was said, was never happier than when messing about in boats – be it fishing with his grandchildren or just meandering among the coves of the peninsular where he was raised. Perhaps it is fitting that he was finally laid to rest at Kilchoan, Ardnamurachan.

Iain’s wife Sheilis, his four children and nine grandchildren survive him. They were the fulcrums around which his life rotated. By all who new him, he will be sorely missed. The legacy of his music will continue to be studied and performed by future generations of musicians – a lasting tribute to a remarkable man.

Stuart Hulse