Donald Forsyth

Civil engineer

Born: May 11, 1931;

Died: March 22, 2017

DONALD Forsyth, who has died aged 85, was a well-known civil engineer and talented amateur sportsman who became managing director of the building and civil engineering company Henry Boot Scotland. He was also a leading figure in the Scottish golf community.

Donald Hugh Darg Forsyth was born in Edinburgh in 1931, a second child to James and Caroline Forsyth. He was educated at George Heriot’s School and Heriot-Watt College and from an early stage exhibited considerable sporting prowess. He excelled at rugby and football but had a particular aptitude for tennis and progressed to play in the junior championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon. He also had a trial with Heart of Midlothian.

On leaving school, he considered a professional tennis career but was dissuaded from this by his father. Nevertheless he continued to play competitive tennis for a number of years while also wearing the number 15 shirt for Heriot’s FP Rugby Club.

After national service with The Royal Air Force, his professional life was in civil engineering. He served a four-year apprenticeship from 1952 with the city engineer’s department in Edinburgh. In 1956 he married Olive Crockart and the young couple moved to Kilmarnock where Donald was employed by FJC Lilley.

His work ethic and talents were quickly recognised and in 1967 his flourishing career took him to a promoted post with Lilley in Lancashire. His reputation continued to grow, such that in 1978 he was head-hunted back to his home country as civil engineering director of the Holst Construction Company. Although the demands of his career took him the length and breadth of the country, he settled with the family in Troon where he remained until his death. Following the acquisition of Holst by Norwest, Mr Forsyth was appointed business development director of Norwest Holst but subsequently moved to Henry Boot Scotland, latterly becoming managing director. In 1985 he was elected president of The Building Contractors Association of Scotland.

Despite his busy professional life, he remained an enthusiastic and gifted sportsman. Once into his 30s he saw the writing on the wall for rugby and for competitive tennis so he decided to take up golf. Despite never having swung a golf club in anger before, within a very short time his handicap was scratch. Living in Lancashire he became a member of Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, won numerous competitions and represented the club in competitive matches. He was already a Member of Royal Troon Golf Club and that undoubtedly influenced his and Olive’s choice of location when they moved back to Scotland.

His association with Royal Troon was to be monumental to both him and to the club for the rest his life. He served with distinction on the general and house committees, then from 1988–1990 was elected as captain. He was immensely honoured by this accolade especially since his period of captaincy coincided with the 118th Open Championship of 1989.

He was immensely proud of Royal Troon Golf Club and must be regarded as one of the greatest ambassadors the club has ever seen. In 1989 he was most deservedly elected a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

A key to his success and the respect he gained in all walks of life was that he was a true people person. He was also a family man. He and Olive were married for almost 60 years prior to her death in April 2016.

He is survived by his daughters, Caroline and Morag, his sons-in-law Ken and Bobby, his four grandchildren, Stuart, Jill, Scott and Amy, his elder sister Dorina, and his trusted Border Terrier Isla.

JOHN R MCGREGOR