Florist and fruit merchant Bill Dryden has died following an illness at the age of 91.
Born and brought up in Dundee’s Nelson Terrace, Bill was the youngest of three brothers, who were all involved in the family firm started by their grandfather.
Dryden’s was a well-known local business selling flowers, fruit and vegetables at a number of shops in the town.
Bill was educated at Dundee High School and Strathallan. After leaving school in 1947, he spent the next four years learning the trade with a firm of potato merchants in Huntly and the Glasgow Fruit Market.
From there, he moved back to the family business as it expanded into wholesale, and started up a frozen food department. In the mid 1960s the family decided to split the firm, Bill’s share being the retail shops in Castle Street and Broughty Ferry as well as a unit in the Dundee wholesale fruit and vegetable market.
In the late 1980s, with the closing down of the wholesale trade and the rise of the supermarkets, Bill decided to sell the business and retired in 1992.
He was a keen golfer and joined Panmure Golf Club, Barry, in 1953 where he continued to enjoy playing until shortly before his death.
He was captain of the club in 1983, and in 1996 completed a book of anecdotes and photographs to mark its 150th anniversary. Bill was also a member of the R&A and a member of the Seniors Golfers’ Society, where he had the opportunity to play with teams in many other countries, often accompanied by his wife Inez, also a keen golfer.
His other interests included rugby and curling and over the years Bill was president of Pitkerro Curling Club, Dundee High School FP Rugby Club, Dundee High School Old Boys’ Club and the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
He also joined the Bonnetmaker and the Baker Crafts, two of the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee and was an Elder at St. Andrew’s Parish Church, Dundee. Latterly he was a regular attender of Broughty Ferry Probus Club.
Described by many as a true gentleman, he will be remembered for his outgoing personality, his generosity and kindness towards others, his sharp wit and his many recitals of poetry from memory.
Bill is survived by his wife, Inez, daughter Sally, son Christopher and grandson Max.
