A journalist, musician, producer and inveterate enthusiast for life’s curiosities, Gordon’s story began, as he often delighted in telling, in a zoo: Glasgow’s Calderpark House Maternity Home, set within the grounds of the now long-closed Calderpark Zoo.
Born to Marina, from the village of East Kilbride, and Gordon senior, a Royal Navy sailor, his childhood was shaped by travel. Schools in Scotland and Cornwall gave way to a formative and eye-opening period in Durban, South Africa, during the years of apartheid. Troubled by the inequalities he witnessed, a young Gordon quietly set about teaching a local boy to read and write – an act of kindness that brought him into conflict with the authorities, and left him with a wryly treasured document declaring him not welcome in the Republic.
South Africa also sparked lifelong passions. He discovered theatre, earning praise for his performance as Eric Birling in An Inspector Calls, and music, even briefly playing guitar with a township juju band – an experience he cherished ever after. By his mid-teens, he was already organising local talent shows, revealing the flair for production and collaboration that would define much of his life.
Returning to Scotland in 1975, Gordon wasted little time pursuing creative interests, immersing himself in theatre, music and performance. Television audiences may remember him as Adam Laing, the fictional newspaper editor in Take the High Road – a role that neatly foreshadowed his later career.
In 1992, while touring the Highlands with a theatre production, he met Lucy, who would become his wife. Married in Edinburgh in 1998, theirs was a partnership rooted in shared creativity, humour and enduring affection.
A move to Argyll followed, where Lucy took up teaching and Gordon’s varied working life included everything from seafood sales to call centres – though neither could contain him for long. Responding to an advertisement at the Dunoon Observer, he began modestly before rising to editor, a role he held with pride, diligence and a keen sense of community responsibility. He believed deeply in local journalism and took quiet satisfaction in leaving the paper stronger than he found it.
Alongside his editorial work, Gordon remained devoted to music, forming the much-loved band Dr Hip and the Blues Operation, and contributing to local arts festivals as a musical director.
Diagnosed with cancer in 2022, Gordon faced his illness with characteristic candour and generosity, encouraging others to seek medical advice without delay. The treatments he underwent afforded him precious additional years, which he embraced fully.
He is survived by his wife Lucy, his family, friends and a wide community who will remember his warmth, wit, and irrepressible creative spirit.
