Bill Marshall - Obituary

Drennan Watson

In Aberdeen in the 1960s, long before Tiso’s, Trespass or Cotswold were ever heard of, finding outdoor or climbing gear in Aberdeen was restricted to two choices. There was the Scout Shop in George St – limited choice and long gone. The other was to go to a credit traders, F Diack and Son, also in George St, and ask for Bill Marshall. He would lead you behind the front desk to a trapdoor down into a basement. with shelves was stacked with what you needed – usually. Along with partner Mike Slater, they later developed Marshall’s in George St. as Aberdeen’s only shop focused on hillwalking and climbing. Changed days!

Bill was involved in the hills in other ways. He founded and was the first team leader of the Aberdeen Mountain Rescue Team. Later, when proposals to develop a coastal mega-quarry at Longhaven stimulated the forming of a local association of climbing and hillwalking clubs, he was actively involved and persuaded Drennan Watson to become the founding chair of the North East Mountain Trust. Over the years, he helped many other causes. As example, he drew me into helping him lead the climbing of Beinn Macdhui by the Milton Mountaineers - who were all blind! He became a Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Assessor.

After Marshall’s, he worked for Gordon Enterprise to encourage local businesses and community ventures using the skills developed running two successful businesses. He and his wife Dora moved to Mountain Cottage in Braemar giving them their home in the hills with their three sons Quentin, Sean and Neil. This was hugely helpful for Braemar where he spearheaded the development of Braemar Community Trust. Through that, he headed up major local initiatives like transforming the former coach and stables area of the Fife Arms Hotel, the Mews, into an important commercial and visitor centre, the community use of Braemar Castle, and the development of a local hydro scheme at Corriemulzie. Lesser initiatives included the formation of a local path network and becoming the honorary warden of Morrone Nature Reserve, encouraging birch regeneration there.

He died, aged 86, at Mountain Cottage on the 29th September 2021 after prolonged illness and a piece of the history of climbing and hillwalking in the hills of the Cairngorms and the wider Northeast went with him.