Strathspey mourns loss of Alistair McCook, 'most deserved' of MBEs

“It is the end of a remarkable life of service not only to Nethy but all communities in Badenoch and Strathspey which led to one of the best deserved MBE’s in the history of the awards”.

So said former Highland councillor Stuart Black, a long time friend of Alistair McCook.

He was awarded his MBE in 2001 for his services to the community and was invested by HRH Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in November of that year.

His son Sandy said: “Dad was very proud of that.”

Mr McCook served Nethy Bridge and the wider strath in many guises – often running parallel – for an astonishing 80 years.

His first role was as a gunner in the Home Guard during World War II when aged just 15.

At the time of his death he was still a member of two community groups furthering the interests of his beloved Nethy.

One of his greatest legacies was as a founding member and ex-leader of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team.

He led the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team for six years in the early 1970s and was followed by Molly Porter.

Sandy said: “Before the mountain rescuers there were just ad hoc groups who went out to help.

“In the early 1960s police in Aviemore called a meeting of volunteers and dad was one of them and he signed up on the first night and there-after the team was formed.

“Dad attended on a winter survival course in the mountains of Norway in 1965.

“Whilst out there he actually met commandos from Kompani Linge who had trained in the Nethy area and he struck up a great friendship with quite a number of them.

“He visited them, and they us.”

Mr McCook was also a familiar face from his rounds as a press photographer. After a career in forestry, he switched his attention to photography and went full-time in 1966.

As well as documenting daily life in the strath and wider Highlands, he will be best remembered for his award-winning photos of the Cromdale Church siege in August 1976.

Sandy said: “We were there all day, I remember sitting on top of the church wall and the accused being hauled out of the window.”

Mr McCook was also a prominent local councillor. He first served with Inverness-shire County Council, starting in 1966.

Sandy said: “When there was regionalisation in 1975 he did not want to be involved in the region and served with the then Badenoch and Strathspey District Council.

“He was on the district council for the entirety of its life starting as vice-chair and then becoming chair and remaining in that post until its abolition and creation of the new Highland Council in 1996.”

Mr McCook represented Nethy Bridge when every community had its own very much local councillor. Son Sandy said: “He never faced an election in all of his time.”

Mr McCook passed away at Grant House Care Home on January 8. He is survived by Sandy, daughter-in-law Marion and grandchildren John and Hannah.

His funeral service will take place at Abernethy Old Kirk next Wednesday.

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