FORMER TAYSIDE Region depute director of education Hector John Calder has died. He was 70.

Born in Aberdeen on June 8, 1937, he attended Mile End Primary School.

When the family moved to Banffshire, he attended Craigellachie Primary School, then Aberlour High School, before moving to Keith Grammar in 1951.

Mr Calder won an open bursary to Aberdeen University to study modern languages, graduating in French and German.

He had already decided to become a languages teacher and after a required year abroad, he returned to Aberdeen to train as a teacher, before being appointed to his first post at Alloa Academy, where he remained until 1965.

That year he married Diane and moved to a post at Aberdeen Grammar, enabling him to pursue further educational qualifications at the university.

Their son Philip was born in 1966, followed by daughter Diana in July 1968, by which time he had been appointed assistant director of education for Perth and Kinross, later becoming depute director.

In 1975, following the reorganisation of local government in Scotland, he was appointed divisional education officer in Perth.

As divisional education officers, he was responsible for the planning and development of Perth Technical College as it was then known, which was formally opened in October 1971.

Further administrative changes resulted in his transfer to Tayside House, where he became the director responsible for the development of special education and nursery education provision.

In 1991 he suffered a stroke and was forced to retire on health grounds.

During his career he was involved in numerous committees in the fields of teacher exchange, secondary education and special educational services for the handicapped.

He was also a member of the visiting committee of Friarton Young Offenders Institution and a member of the Children’s Panel in Dundee and in Perth.

Mr Calder had a life-long interest in the arts and served for many years as a member of Perth Festival of the Arts committee and also with the Perth Chamber Music Society.

He continued to conduct classes in French, German and Latin long after he left the classroom and he spoke Italian and was just learning to master Russian.

Mr Calder is survived by his wife Diane, son Philip, daughter Diana and his two grand-daughters.