Gilbert Craig, past master of Masonic Lodge Abernethy Round Tower (1429), has died aged 70.
His career was spent as a motor mechanic at SMT, Perth, I&H Brown and, for a period, Gilbert, known as Gibb or Gibby, ran his own business.
He was born at Perth Royal Infirmary in August, 1952, the son of Gilbert and Agnes and a younger brother to Joan.
Gilbert’s childhood years were spent at Glenfoot, Abernethy, where he enjoyed the freedom of running about the hills, often with his cousins, Colin and Evelyn.
Qualifications
He was educated in Bridge of Earn and when he left school, began his apprenticeship with SMT at Dunkeld Road in Perth.
Gilbert had a passion for vehicles and would spend many hours maintaining SMT’s rally car.
When he was just 16, he met his future wife Flo at the dancing in Abernethy and they married at Abernethy Church in March 1973.
Setting up home
The couple began married life in North Muirton where they lived for 20 years.
In 1976, the couple’s son, Kevin, was born, followed by Lori three years later.
After qualifying as a mechanic, Gilbert worked for a number of companies and ran his own business, Craig and Jenkins, along with George Jenkins.
He later joined I&H Brown in Perth, working on larger construction vehicles, then finished off his career with Graeme Robertson, also in Perth.
Gilbert had been a freemason since 1975 and took on several roles before being appointed lodge master in 1989, which involved visiting other lodges and forging friendships.
Holidays
A devoted family man, Gilbert worked long hours to enable him to take all the family on holidays to places including Florida, Mexico, Spain and Greece.
He loved nothing more than spending time with his grandchildren, Cameron and Aila.
In later years, Gilbert and Flo, together with friends from the Scone Travel Group, which was their own travel company, enjoyed many holidays around Scotland and abroad.
Sport
He was also passionate about St Johnstone and the Scotland football team, enjoyed curling and motorsport but most of all enjoyed watching his grandson Cameron playing rugby.
Gilbert, who had experienced several illnesses over the last six years, recently celebrated his 70th birthday.
He marked it with a visit to the races and lunch at Gleneagles Hotel, with all his family and friends around him.
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