DALMELLINGTON sadly lost one of it most beloved and well kent figures this week.

Dalmellington Band legend, Hugh Johnstone MBE passed away on Monday August 17 following a serious car crash in Patna last month left him badly injured.

Hugh died in Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital in the early hours following weeks of effort by staff in Ayr and Glasgow hospitals who fought to save his life, but doctors and nurses in the Southern General were unable to successfully treat him and Hugh was unable to recover.

The death his hit hard in the community among Hugh’s family and friends. Condolences have also poured in from brass bands around the world, paying respect to one of the country’s greatest brass band leaders.

Hugh was involved with brass bands from the age of just 14 and recently celebrated his 90th birthday - an incredible 76 years that saw him become an inspirational elder statesman of brass banding in Scotland.

Over the years, Hugh tutored hundreds of young band members as well as made his mark on the national scene. He was made an MBE in 1982 to mark his volunteering career in brass banding. During his 76 years with the band, Hugh held positions as player, conductor, vice president , president, youth tutor and committee member as well as becoming Honorary Vice President of the Scottish Brass Band Association (SBBA).

Former Dalmellington Band president and close friend of Hugh’s, Bert Ritchie this week paid tribute to his old pal, saying: “Family members and friends are absolutely heart-broken at the death of one of Dalmellington’s great men and a great leader and historian within the brass band movement in Scotland and have asked me to give their heart-felt thanks to the staff in Ayr Hospital and the Southern General for the wonderful compassion shown and great efforts made to save Hugh’s life.

“Hugh was also awarded the MBE for his wonderful service to the brass band movement in the United Kingdom, and particularly in Scotland, where he was considered to be a ‘legend’ in his own life time.

“Hugh was the first conductor of the famous Dalmellington Band to achieve the top award in Scottish banding by winning the Scottish Championship (premier section) in 1969 and he conducted the band to win the top title again in 1976 - a huge success for a man and a band from the small village of Dalmellington.” Bert added: “Hugh, even after retiring from his conducting role, found a position he loved in Dalmellington Band and for the last ten years or so has been teaching and preparing all the ‘new start’ youngsters from schools and from towns all over Ayrshire for their progression into the equally famous Dalmellington Junior Band.

“Dalmellington Junior Band have achieved unbelievable successes over the last eight or nine years and have been Scottish Champions at four different grades and are currently ‘Premier Section – Champions of Scotland’ at this time and Hugh Johnstone played an important role in these successes with his excellent tutoring methods and his outstanding abilities to gel with the youngsters he worked with. They will miss him dearly.

“Hugh was a huge part of the great wee town of Dalmellington and he knew everyone and everything about the history of the town and was regularly asked for information and even advice by many townsfolk and he regularly opened fetes, gala days, new shops and had other dignitary roles in the town. He was a man who was highly respected by everyone who knew him and would regularly ‘go that extra mile’ to help the town and the residents in the town.” Finally, Bert added: “Hugh Johnstone had a fascinating history and was a remarkable man, loved by all, and Dalmellington is a town grieving for one of its own and one of the greatest men ever to reside in the town.” Hugh is survived by his daughter Ucilla, her husband George, their daughter Claire and Claire’s husband Jono. Hugh’s funeral will be held next Friday August 28 at Dalmellington Parish Church at 1.45pm, followed by a service in Ayr Crematorium at 3.30pm.