A Moray tribute: 'Best dad you could ask for'
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Keith figure John Seivwright, who passed away last week, was a big man both in terms of his height and his personality.
A mainstay of Keith Community Radio (KCR) as well as the former chairman of the town's Royal British Legion, he was also kind-hearted and a lot of fun.
John was born in 1946 in Fyvie, but grew up in Arradoul from the age of four – a fact he was always fond of reminding his family about.
'Hame rule for Arradoul' was a favourite saying.
John's first experience of entertaining others came as a 10-year-old pupil at Lady Cathcart School in Buckie, when he took to the stage to mime an operatic tune while wearing a frock and a pineapple wig on his head.
In the audience with their mum that day was his younger brother Albert, or 'Abes' as John used to call him.
Laughing at the memory, Albert said: "John was a character even back then.
"I was a couple of years younger and not yet at Lady Cathcart. I remember being worried that I'd be expected to do the same thing when I joined."
At the age of 15, John signed up as a boy soldier with the Gordon Highlanders.
His first posting was to Fort George, where he played bass drum in the Gordon Highlander Drums and Pipes – (the only regiment where it's written that way round).
This, though, was just the start of a 27-year military career which took him all over the world – to Borneo, Belize and West Germany.
He also found himself in Northern Ireland at the height the Troubles.
However it was while back home on leave one April night in 1966, that he first met Rose at the Two Red Shoes ballroom in Elgin.
The pair would marry just six months later in October.
Amy, one of John's granddaughters, said: "Papa stated that the moment he met Gaggie he knew straight away he was going to marry her.
"She lived in Dufftown but that didn't stop him from seeing her at every possible opportunity.
"He would hitch lifts, sit on the milk cart, even walk the whole way there and back.
"They were close to each other in a way that not many couples are."
Rather than constantly moving around, Rose was keen to have a stable family home so they set up base in Keith.
Together they went on to have three daughters together – Dawn, Shona and Linzee.
John was immensely proud of all three.
If anyone ever mentioned Findochty in conversation, he would invariably inform them that Dawn was the village school's head teacher.
He also took an enormous interest in all eight of his grandchildren as well as his great-grandchild.
Amy said: "Papa was always telling us to speak up. He was very good at giving you confidence. He was doing his best to try set us up for life."
John rose to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) and also boxed as a heavyweight, reaching the final of a contest held for troops based on the Rhine.
Such fighting qualities were needed when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1973 while still aged in his 20s.
The Army was initially going to force him to quit without even a pension.
However, John dug in his heels, and a compromise was reached.
He was allowed to stay on, provided he continued to pass regular fitness tests.
John finally left the Gordon Highlanders on his own terms in 1988 – a full 15 years after his diagnosis.
He worked for CIS Insurance in Elgin for several years before, in a sense, rejoining the military.
John found employment as the office manager at the military defence careers office in Aberdeen's Belmont Street.
Middle daughter Shona said: "Dad was 6ft 4 or 6ft 5 but, for a while, he was driving to and from Aberdeen every day in a Mini.
"He had to have his seat tilted so far back it was resting on the back seat.
"In the end he started catching the bus instead. I'm sure it was more comfortable."
Youngest daughter Linzee said: "Dad was the best dad you could ask for. He never raised his voice or gave us a row. He was very patient and loving."
John also got involved with KCR, becoming in 1997, its first presenter to broadcast on the FM frequency.
His weekly 'Mainly Scottish' show was highly popular, with heaps of folk always ringing to chat between records.
A regular feature comprised the audience being challenged to guess a Doric word.
It also involved his regular refrain: "No prizes. It's just to get the grey matter sweeling about in yer heed."
John was broken-hearted when Rose passed away in 2019.
However, he continued to keep active.
Swimming helped lessen the symptoms of his MS, so he attended the pool in Keith five times a week.
Each of John's radio shows saw him carefully write out a playlist several days in advance.
Last Friday evening, three family members – daughter Linzee plus granddaughters Amy and Kenna – took to the airways in John's place to present Mainly Scottish.
The music came from the final playlist he had prepared shortly before his sudden death last week at the age of 76.
You can listen to that show HERE
John is survived by his three daughters – Dawn, Shona and Linzee – and two younger brothers Albert and James.
He is also survived by his eight grandchildren – Michael, Eain, Cameron, Amy, Alix, Callum, Ben and Kenna – and his great-grandchild Elijah.
A service will be held for John at St Rufus Church in Keith on Monday, February 20, from 11am. All welcome.
