Charlie Ross Raeburn

7th September 1945 – 24th September 2025 

 

Memories of Charlie by Gordon Watson 

 

Always friendly, always passionate about bringing the community together, evident from my first ever memories of Charlie, mainly in his desire to reverse the adversarial attitudes we see around us. In his role as Chair of Drumsheugh Gardens Upkeep Committee (DGUC) and as a neighbour, he encouraged us to hold events, parties, anything that brought people together to the benefit of all.

 

Charlie chaired the DGUC twice, called back a second time as there were no suitable candidates wishing to fill the voluntary role. After his first tenure, Charlie was presented with a dedicated bench in the Gardens to which a brass plaque was attached with wording designed to thank Charlie for all his efforts…and about which he always joked, “At a glance it looked like a Memorial plaque placed there a good few years too early!”

 

As Chair, he was ‘guided’ in decisions by good friend and Committee Member, John (The Lord) McCluskey, Peer of the Realm and former High Court Judge, who teased Charlie if he allowed a Committee Meeting to run over its allotted time…hence the content of my ‘spoof’ Scotsman cover attached. This also holds memories of joking with Charlie over ambitions such as applying for Planning Permission for a 50M Olympic pool in Drumsheugh Gardens, with obvious sporting and fee-earning benefits…also restricting Gardens’ areas where dog poo could be left uncollected.

 

A true Aberdonian and proud of it, Charlie joked about his passion for not spending unnecessarily. He seldom put heating on at home, preferring the more cost-effective application of yet another pullover, or saving on power bills by restricting his showering until his daily early-morning visit to Drumsheugh Baths where a shower was in integral part of his swimming routine.

 

Amongst Charlie’s ‘moral’ passions, I most remember his deep enthusiasm for the resurrection of play facilities for children/youths in all communities, much of which had sadly reduced over many years of reductions in Government funding. He believed this led to some of the failures we observe around us in feral and criminal behavior amongst the young, who found themselves with little to do than gather in groups, often with mischievous intent. Charlie spent much of his latter years seeking solutions for such problems, always with play and sport at the heart of his thoughts.

 

I always found Charlie to be amenable, friendly, enthusiastic, an honourable companion whether a chance meeting in the street, a more formal Committee setting or over a coffee in The Bonham. He will be missed, though his passions for ‘community’ have been adopted by the DGUC and will continue in his memory.

 

Gordon Watson

Neighbour and Friend

And on behalf of the:

Drumsheugh Gardens Upkeep Committee