Famous People from Scotland — Obituaries

Sparks during a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England, May 29, 2023. From left to right: Russell Mael (vocals) and Ron Mael (keyboards)

Ian Hampton dead at age 79, Scottish bassist

Scottish bassist · 04 June 2026 · June 2026 · June 4

June 4, 2026

Sir Alex Younger dead at age 62, chief of the Secret Intelligence Service

chief of the Secret Intelligence Service · Scotland · Britain · 03 June 2026 · June 2026 · Cancer · June 3

June 3, 2026

Meta Ramsay, Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale dead at age 89, Scottish Labour Party member of the House…

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale, the Scottish Labour Party member of the House of Lords, died on May 28, 2026, aged 89. Also known as Margaret Mildred Ramsay, she was born on July 12, 1936, and was educated at the University… · Britain · 28 May 2026 · May 2026 · Cancer

May 28, 2026

Jim Irvine dead at age 85, public figure

the Scottish footballer who played for Dundee United, Middlesbrough and Barrow, died on May 18, 2026, aged 85. Irvine, who was a forward, appeared in the Scottish Football League for Dundee United and Heart of Midlothian and in The Football… · 18 May 2026 · May 2026 · Leo

May 18, 2026

Scott Hastings dead at age 61, Scottish rugby union player, non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Scottish rugby union player and sports commentator, died on May 17, 2026, aged 61, in Edinburgh, Scotland, of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was a Scotland international and played for Watsonians, Edinburgh District and, later, Edinburgh Rugby when the provincial side turned… · Britain · Ireland · 17 May 2026 · Sagittarius · May 2026

May 17, 2026

Anna Ritchie planning at the Knap of Howar excavations in Papa Westray, Orkney, in 1973

Anna Ritchie dead at age 82, British archaeologist and historian

a British archaeologist and historian, died on May 8, 2026, aged 82. Born on September 28, 1943, she was known for her work at archaeological sites in Orkney and for guidebooks she wrote for the HMSO and Historic Environment Scotland… · 08 May 2026 · May 2026

May 8, 2026

Donald MacRae Scottish folk singer dead at age 84

a Scottish folk singer who sang primarily in Gaelic, died on April 29, 2026, aged 84. Born in Stornoway on August 26, 1941, he grew up on crofts in South Lochs on the Isle of Lewis and later in Carishader.… · 29 April 2026 · April 2026

April 29, 2026

Quintin Young public figure dead at age 78

a Scottish footballer, died on April 24, 2026, aged 78. He was best known for his time with Rangers, where he spent three seasons after starting his career at Ayr United in 1969 and later moving to Coventry City. Young… · 24 April 2026 · April 2026

April 24, 2026

Allan Hosie Scottish rugby referee dead at age 80

the Scottish rugby referee and former Scottish Rugby Union president, died on April 22, 2026, aged 80. He was the 116th president of the Scottish Rugby Union and received a Scotland referee cap in January 2025. Hosie refereed 22 international… · 22 April 2026 · April 2026

April 22, 2026

Alexander Morton public figure dead at age 81

the Scottish actor known for roles in Monarch of the Glen, Take the High Road and Taggart, died on April 15, 2026, aged 81. Born in Glasgow on March 24, 1945, he trained at the Central School of Speech and… · 15 April 2026 · April 2026

April 15, 2026

John Dalgleish Donaldson public figure dead at age 84

a Scottish-Australian mathematician and professor, died on April 12, 2026, at the age of 84. Death was announced on that date. Born on September 5, 1941, in Cockenzie and Port Seton, Scotland, he later emigrated to Tasmania, Australia, with his… · 12 April 2026 · April 2026

April 12, 2026

Doug Allan Scottish wildlife photographer and cameraman dead at age 74

the Scottish wildlife photographer and cameraman, died on April 8, 2026, aged 74–75. Known for his work in polar regions and underwater, he was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, one of twin brothers, and was the son of a photographer and… · 08 April 2026 · April 2026

April 8, 2026

Sir Craig Reedie public figure dead at age 84

the Scottish sports administrator who served as president of the World Anti-Doping Agency from 2014 to 2019, died on April 6, 2026, aged 84. He was vice-president of the International Olympic Committee from 2012 to 2016 and chairman of the… · Britain · 06 April 2026 · April 2026

April 6, 2026

Dorothy Logie public figure dead at age 83

2026 · Scotland · 03 April 2026 · April 2026 · April 3

April 3, 2026

Alex Cropley Scottish footballer dead at age 75

a Scottish footballer who played for Hibernian, Aston Villa and the Scotland national team, died on March 26, 2026. Born in Aldershot, Hampshire, and raised in Edinburgh, he was a midfielder who began his career with Hibernian. He was part… · 26 March 2026 · March 2026

March 26, 2026

Jeff Smith (motorcyclist) English Hall of Fame motorcycle racer dead at age 91

the English motorcycle racer inducted into the Hall of Fame for his achievements in motocross, died on March 21, 2026, aged 91. Born Jeffrey Vincent Smith in Colne, Lancashire, England, on 14 October 1934, he competed in the Motocross World… · Scotland · Britain · 21 March 2026 · March 2026

March 21, 2026

Jim Fleeting (footballer) Scottish football player (Ayr United dead at age 70

a Scottish football player and manager, died on March 15, 2026. A centre half, he began his professional career with Norwich City, making one appearance before joining Ayr United, where he stayed for six years. He later played for Clyde… · 15 March 2026 · March 2026

March 15, 2026

Gordon Wallace (footballer, born 1943) Scottish football player and manager dead at age 82

the Scottish football player and manager, died on March 12, 2026. A forward, he began his career with Montrose in 1961 before playing for Raith Rovers, Dundee and Dundee United. A native of Dundee, he was named Scottish Football Writers’… · America · 12 March 2026 · March 2026

March 12, 2026

John Markie Scottish footballer (Falkirk dead at age 81

a Scottish footballer with Falkirk, died on March 2, 2026 · 02 March 2026 · March 2026

March 2, 2026

Mike Smith (Scottish cricketer) Scottish cricketer dead at age 59

the Scottish cricketer, died on March 1, 2026, aged 59. Born in Edinburgh on March 30, 1966, he was a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler who made his Scotland debut in 1987 against Ireland, scoring 79 in the first… · 01 March 2026 · March 2026

March 1, 2026

Margaret Farquhar Scottish politician dead at age 95

a Scottish politician and the first woman to serve as Lord Provost of Aberdeen, died on February 27, 2026. Born in Aberdeen as Margaret Burnett on 14 March 1930, she was educated at Broomhill Primary, Ruthrieston Secondary School and Webster's… · 27 February 2026 · February 2026

February 27, 2026

Ken Smith (rugby union) Scottish rugby union player (South of Scotland District dead at age 96

a Scottish international rugby union player and former president of the Scottish Rugby Union, died on February 26, 2026, aged 96. Born in Edinburgh on June 2, 1929, he played at flanker and was educated at George Watson’s College. Smith… · 26 February 2026 · February 2026

February 26, 2026

Jim Donnelly (snooker player) Scottish snooker player dead at age 79

the Scottish snooker player and coach, died on February 24, 2026, aged 79. Born in Edinburgh on June 13, 1946, he won the Scottish Amateur Snooker Championship in 1978, beating Eddie McLaughlin 6–4 in the final. He was accepted as… · 24 February 2026 · February 2026

February 24, 2026

Bill Glen Scottish rugby union player dead at age 93

a Scottish international rugby union player, died on February 22, 2026, aged 93. Born William Sutherland Glen on 13 March 1932, he was educated at Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, where he captained the rugby team. He went on to… · 22 February 2026 · February 2026

February 22, 2026

David Harding (artist) Glenrothes town artist and Head of Environmental Art at Glasgow School of Ar…

a Scottish artist and teacher, died on February 21, 2026, aged 88. He was best known for his residency as a town artist in the new town of Glenrothes and for serving as Head of Environmental Art at Glasgow School… · 21 February 2026 · February 2026

February 21, 2026

Seumas McSporran Scottish multiple worker dead at age 88

the Scottish multiple worker who was known for holding 14 jobs over 31 years on the Isle of Gigha, died on February 15, 2026, aged 88. Born James Alexander Graham McSporran on Gigha on January 9, 1938, he began working… · 15 February 2026 · February 2026 · Other

February 15, 2026

Jeane Freeman Scottish businesswoman and politician dead at age 72

the Scottish businesswoman and politician who served as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport, died on February 7, 2026. A member of the Scottish National Party, she represented Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley in the Scottish Parliament from 2016 to… · 07 February 2026 · February 2026

February 7, 2026

Tommy McMillan (footballer, born 1944) Scottish footballer (Aberdeen dead at age 81

the Scottish footballer who played for Aberdeen and Falkirk, died on February 7, 2026, at the age of 81. Born in Paisley on June 26, 1944, he played as a central defender and began his career with Johnstone Burgh and… · 07 February 2026 · February 2026

February 7, 2026

Allan Massie Writer dead at age 87

a British journalist, died on February 3, 2026, aged 87. Massie was a Scottish journalist, columnist and sports writer who worked for several newspapers in England and Scotland. He wrote regular columns for The Scotsman, The Sunday Times (Scotland), the… · 03 February 2026 · February 2026

February 3, 2026

Bertie Higgins (footballer) Scottish footballer dead at age 81

the Scottish amateur footballer known for his time with Queen's Park, died on February 1, 2026. Born Cuthbert Edward Higgins on January 26, 1945, he played in the Scottish League as an outside left and was capped by Scotland at… · 01 February 2026 · February 2026

February 1, 2026

Jim Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness

Scottish politician · 28 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 28 · Tankerness

January 29, 2026

Willie Allan

Scottish footballer (Greenock Morton · 28 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 28

January 29, 2026

Eric Russell

Scottish cricketer · 28 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 28 · Éric

January 29, 2026

Roy Erskine

Scottish footballer (Stirling Albion · 24 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 24

January 25, 2026

Chris Baur Scottish broadcast journalist dead at age 83

a Scottish broadcast journalist, died on January 23, 2026. He was born Christopher Frank Baur on 28 May 1942 in Oxted, Surrey, and was raised in Scotland from the age of three. Educated at Dalhousie Preparatory School and Strathallan School… · 23 January 2026 · January 2026

January 23, 2026

Donald Douglas (Scottish actor)

Scottish actor · 18 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 18

January 19, 2026

Alan Black

Scottish footballer (Norwich City · 17 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 17

January 18, 2026

John Wallace

Scottish trumpet player · 10 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 10

January 11, 2026

Ian McCrae

Scottish rugby union player (Gordonians · 09 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 9

January 10, 2026

Willie Knox public figure dead at age 88

the Scottish football player and manager, died on January 7, 2026. Born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, on September 9, 1937, he played as a wing half for Raith Rovers, Forfar Athletic and Barrow. He began his senior career with Raith Rovers… · 07 January 2026 · January 2026

January 7, 2026

Bobby Holmes

Scottish footballer (St Mirren) · 04 January 2026 · January 2026 · January 4

January 5, 2026

Kathleen Dalyell Stewardship of The Binns dead at age 88

a Scottish conservationist and supporter of the Labour Party, died on December 27, 2025, aged 88. Born Kathleen Mary Agnes Wheatley on November 17, 1937, she was educated at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Aberdeen and later studied… · 27 December 2025 · December 2025

December 27, 2025

John Robertson (footballer, born 1953) Scottish footballer dead at age 72

the Scottish footballer who played as a left winger for Nottingham Forest, Derby County and the Scotland national team, died on December 25, 2025. He was a key figure in Nottingham Forest’s success under Brian Clough, providing the cross for… · 25 December 2025 · December 2025

December 25, 2025

Andrew Arbuckle (politician) Scottish journalist and politician, MSP dead at age 81

Scottish journalist and politician who served as an MSP for the Mid Scotland and Fife region, died on December 25, 2025, aged 81. Andrew David Arbuckle MBE was first elected as a Fife councillor in 1986 and represented Newburgh until… · 25 December 2025 · December 2025

December 25, 2025