Jimmy Buchan, who was acclaimed as one of the best motorcycle road racers Scotland has ever produced, has died at the age of 81.
He had battled Parkinson’s disease for many years.
Famously, the former Perth Academy pupil celebrated a milestone triumph in both the junior and senior races at the 1956 Manx Grand Prix, receiving a rapturous welcome on his return to the Fair City.
His remarkable achievement was recognised in his home city when he was honoured by Perth Council.
Born and raised in Perth, Jimmy hailed from a biking family. His father Jack raced in the ’30s and his brother, Donald, competed in trials and owned Buchan Motorcycles.
His skills were first recognised in 1951 when, just 16, he rode sidecar passenger with his dad at the International Six Days Trial in Italy, returning with the gold medal.
In winning the senior race on the notoriously demanding Isle of Man circuit, Jimmy clocked up an average speed of 90mph over more than two and a half hours on the track. The previous year, Jimmy had won the Clubman TT race on the island.
As the 1950s drew to a close he continued to race at a variety of venues, including Errol Aerodrome.
A keen tennis player, golfer and football in his younger days he played for Perth Police in the Half-Holiday League Jimmy’s love of sport was reflected in his chosen career path.
He joined his father’s Perth News Agency from school and moved to Glasgow in the early 1960s to pursue a career on national newspapers, first with the Daily Record and then, from 1961 to 1989, the Daily Express.
Jimmy joined as night news editor and retired as the sports editor.
Colleagues described him as “a gentleman, always polite and an excellent reporter”.
While always professional in his duties, he particularly relished reporting on the fortunes of his beloved St Johnstone.
He recalled covering a League Cup semi-final with Rangers and when Saints went two goals up he was nearly ejected from the press box for celebrating.
Jimmy, a grandfather, is survived by his wife Isobel and two sons.
His funeral was held at Rutherglen Cemetery in his adopted Glasgow.