A legendary face well known across Ayrshire has died at the age of 100.
John Murdoch started snapping for the Cumnock Chronicle over 50 years ago, after being roped in by fellow Chronicle photographer at the time, John Merry.
Mr Murdoch celebrated his 100th birthday last July, when he was on the other side of the lens for the day, after receiving a birthday card from the Queen, along with almost 100 other cards from locals.
John was born and raised at Barlosh farm, near Ochiltree, and ran the farm with his brother after the passing of their parents, fitting in his photography work for the Chronicle and other papers in the area alongside working on the farm – and only giving it up when he turned 80.
Since then John, who was married to Jean for 52 years until she died in 2005, lived in a bungalow in nearby Coylton – although giving up the farm didn’t mean giving up photography, and John was still chronicling many aspects of life in Ayrshire for the local press until his early 90s.
Princess Diana and Princess Anne were among the VIPs to have been ‘snapped’ by John over the years – though when the Chronicle, on a visit to his home for his special birthday last summer, asked if there was one photocall that stood out from the countless events he attended down the years, it was one involving a rather different kind of famous face that stood out.
“I remember being asked to go to a wrestling match at the old ice rink in Ayr,” he recalled, when speaking to the Chronicle on his 100th birthday last year.
“Mick McManus, who was known as the bad boy of wrestling at that time, and Les Kellett were fighting, but there was a presentation to be done in the ring before the start, involving a girl from Patna.
“I took the photograph all right, but I didn’t realise Les had been standing behind me making faces while they were making the presentation.
“The girl got out of the ring, but the next thing I knew, the fight had started and I was still in the ring.
"I’m running here and there to try and keep out their way, and there’s these three thousand voices all shouting 'get out, get out, get out!'.
“I managed to get out eventually – I had to jump halfway down the stairs but at least there was a ringside seat for me to watch the fight!."
His funeral will be held at Masonhill Crematorium in Ayr at 2pm on Monday, February 27.
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