Jack was born near Embo. He learned French and German to a fair standard before leaving school at 14. His headmaster tried to persuade him to stay on as a likely University candidate. He worked for T J Hunter for 50 years in Brora. He was in charge of the brickworks and colliery office.he was appointed assistant registrar in 1929 and since 1931 took additional roles as census enumerator, polling clerk and presiding officer for local and Parliamentary elections. He became Britain’s longest serving Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths with a total of 67 years service.
After the war, he rejoined T J Hunter, operators of Britain’s most northerly coal mine, as a salaries and wages clerk. He became involved in translating correspondence from French and German customers.
He was secretary for Brora Rangers Football Club and became their gatekeeper on entry to the Highland League. He was precentor of the Clyne Free Church for more than 30 years. For 61 years, until the age of 80, he was superintendent of the Sunday School and for 25 years was a lay preacher. Jack never married.
He was the Brora correspondent of the Northern Times from 1963. He was well known for his extensive knowledge of the history of the area.
In the 1986 New Year’s Honours List, he was awarded an MBE for services to the community.
He died in 1999 after being admitted to hospital in Golspie with a stroke.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brora Patrol | Patrol member | Unknown | Unknown |
Clyne Higher Grade School, Brora
He was recruited to Auxiliary Units for his knowledge of explosives gained at the colliery. He was responsible for issuing He trained at Littleferry House in Golspie and at Berriedale in Caithness. This included learning how to blow up bridges.
He was called up for military service, but his Auxiliary Units role meant he was returned after 8 days and was placed on the reserve. He eventually returned to the military a year later after the restrictions were lifted. He served in the Royal Army Service Corps until 1945