Member of printing dynasty

Born: September 17, 1946;

Died: February 23, 2016

SUSAN Culliford, who has died aged 69, was a member of the Watson family whose eponymous printing dynasty in Glasgow could trace its history back to the mid 19th century.

She lived in Nethybridge in the Highlands with her husband Paul and her two sons Duncan and Alastair and was a large part of the local community whether it be the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute, The Nethy Highland Games, Disabled Ramblers or the local choir. She was at the epicentre of the action and could often be seen out and about with her beloved collie dog Hamish.

She was born in Glasgow and was one of two children to her parents John and Jean Watson. Early life was spent in Falkland Street in Hyndland, Glasgow before the family moved to Bearsden in 1955.

She had a passion for classical music which she shared with her father, who returned from active service in the war to resume his role at John Watson and Company.

The favoured family sport was golf and although enjoying the occasional foray to the links, Mrs Culliford chose sailing instead, mainly at Bardowie Sailing Club in East Dunbartonshire. She was a keen swimmer all her life having been a long time member of the iconic Western Baths Club in Hillhead.

She was educated at Laurel Bank School and on completion of her schooling studied speech and language therapy in Glasgow. Shortly after graduating, she visited Canada where she made many friends and met her husband Paul. They married in New Kilpatrick Parish Church, Bearsden, 1970, and then settled in the Canadian capital Ottawa.

She secured herself a senior post with the Ottawa Board of Education as a senior speech and language therapist. Further promotion followed to the Carlton Board of Education.

The family remained in Canada for 18 years during which time they made many friends. In 1988 they returned to Scotland where Mrs Culliford continued working.

It was the simple things in life that gave her so much pleasure. She had a magnificent garden and took great pride in the fact that the family was completely self sufficient in vegetables. She greatly enjoyed the peaceful solitude of the Rothiemurchus Forrest and lower Cairngorms on a daily basis, often completing around 8-10 miles a day. She enjoyed home baking and her shortbread was legendary.

She always invited the nephews to Nethy during the school holidays. This was a holiday with a difference for the four boys - camping in the garden, long walks, swimming and little if any television. The boys just loved it and hearing of their aunt’s many idiosyncrasies from a bygone era.

She fought a long and courageous battle with leukaemia but this worsened recently to become Myelodyspastic Syndrome (MDS) where the bone marrow fails to make enough healthy red blood cells. She never once complained and was full of praise for the wonderful NHS in general and Raigmore Hospital in Inverness in particular.

She received additional support and transfusions in Ian Charles Hospital in Grantown-on-Spey and ultimately, realising the fight was not likely to be won, spent her final days in the comfort of the St Vincent Hospital in Kingussie.

She is survived by her husband Paul and her two sons Duncan and Alastair – and not forgetting Hamish the dog.

JOHN M WATSON