HUGH Graham, who has died aged 98, was a fascinating and gentlemanly character of the old school. He was raised in Kilwinning but also became well known in the Three Towns and the Garnock Valley in a long life of service to others, particularly as an expert first-aider.

Leaving school aged 14, he became a fishmonger's message boy, making home deliveries on his bicycle.

He became a van boy and later a driver with Morrison's Bakery in Saltcoats and in that capacity became very well known in the Three Towns.

He took up first aid in 1938 and this would become a life-long passion.

During the war years he was a first aid leader in Stevenston, passing on these vital life-saving skills to many in the Three Towns area.

After the war his first aid skills made him an ideal candidate as an ambulance driver based in Saltcoats.

Such was his popularity that he was referred to as Uncle Hughie by children and grateful parents whom he ferried back and forward to hospital.

In 1954, he left the ambulance service and took up the post as ambulance room attendant at the thriving Glengarnock Steelworks, where he worked for the next 21 years.

While in this position, he took on the additional role as head watchman, later converted to the title of chief security officer.

Dedicated almost to an obsession with first aid, he taught at night school and ran the local branch of St Andrews Ambulance Association for many years.

He also regularly manned the first aid post at Stevenston and Saltcoats beach during the then busy periods from 1940-1970.

Graham had a close affinity with the local Scout group in Kilbirnie, where he taught first aid and regularly went on annual camps as first-aider, a service extended to Kilbirnie BB.

He attended all the town galas over many years and local football matches, providing cover for players. He also attended just about every funeral in Kilbirnie, where he would act as policeman at the gates, stopping the traffic to allow the hearse and mourners to enter and exit.

Such was his reputation that his house was a regular port of call for Kilbirnie folk who sustained cuts and other injuries, looking for first aid and perhaps wanting wounds bandaged.

In fact, the Graham home could often be likened to an out-patients' clinic. No-one was ever turned away, regardless of the time of day. He also attended hundreds of incidents at the steelworks, ranging from fatalities to serious injuries.

For many years Graham and his wife, Margaret, took in young police officers who needed digs. They were welcoming, generous, kindly folk.

Typically, his body was donated to Glasgow University for medical research purposes and no formal memorial service was held, but those who did know this wise, caring and very genuine individual will have a twinkle in the eye and chuckle out loud as they recall many stories of the past where he featured. In a world which seems devoid of genuine characters nowadays, Hugh Graham was certainly one of the best.

From 1997 he lived in sheltered housing at Kilbirnie's Connell Court and in January 2003, when his health deteriorated, he took up residence in the Sun Court Nursing Home in Troon, where he died.

He is survived by sons Campbell and Robert and daughters Jessie and Sarah; 12 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.