SNP

The Inverstcairn and District Branch of the Scottish National Party pay tribute to James Duthie who died on 1 December 2009, aged 67.

A passionate and committed nationalist James lived in the coastal fishing village of St. Combs. He worked as a fisherman from the age of 15, and started writing at the age of 40. His promising career as a TV writer was cut tragically short by the onset of Crohn’s Disease. Despite the subsequent onset of osteoporosis, a heart condition and depression, James continued to battle with his ill health to regain his creative urge to write.

His writing credits include: -

The Drystane Dyker, a play about Robbie - a drystane dyker, ex-soldier and alcoholic, who is haunted by the demons of his past life as a soldier, when he had to kill his fellow man - was originally produced by BBC Scotland and received the Harry Govan Memorial Award for the “Best Scottish Drama” of that year.

Donal and Sally (BBC Scotland 1978) a play about two teenagers from very different backgrounds are day-pupils at the Strathvale Centre for mentally handicapped people. At the centre the boys are taught gardening and the girls crafts and the ‘trainees’ are watched over and encouraged by Miss Betty Green, an instructor, and Bill, the Under-Superintendent. Donal falls for Sally in a big way and she in her turn is his loyal admirer. Their childlike antics cause some amusement in the centre at first, but when Bill catches them dancing alone together he becomes alarmed at the possible implications and decides their respective parents must be informed.

Greta 1997: The Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.

James Duthie is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret, and their two grown up children.