Obituary: John Cradock, businessman

John Cradock was a man whose enthusiasm for a life well lived was as evident in the boardroom as it was on a mountain top. His ethos was simple: be truthful, honest and loyal; respect others, no matter their status, creed or class, and work as hard as you can for your family - but make sure you have some fun while you're at it.

It was a formula that worked enviably well for him, despite the sharp exit of his father, the difficult decisions steering the family business to success and the devastating loss of a son in the world's worst oil disaster.

And it was in the aftermath of that most personal tragedy that his selfless nature was highlighted as never before. His son Alan was one of the 166 men who died when the Piper Alpha platform exploded on the night of 6 July, 1988 - the 167th victim died later in hospital. But as chairman of Aberdeen Harbour Board, it fell to him to escort the Duke of Edinburgh as he visited the injured survivors at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, a task that earned him widespread admiration for his courage and dignity.

Those attributes were the hallmark of a man who, though born in England, was enormously proud to be Scottish.

The son of Ethel and Johnnie Cradock, who later left his mother for the eccentric cook who became his second wife, Fanny Cradock, he was the eldest of four - two boys and two girls.

He was educated at prep schools in England before boarding at Aberdeen Grammar School after the Second World War and, when his father left the family home post-war, Cradock took over the role as head of the family, supported by his Uncle Richard.

He graduated from Aberdeen University with a degree in accountancy, while completing his apprenticeship at the firm where his future wife, Vina, worked. National Service in the RAF followed in the early 1950s when his flat feet apparently dashed any aspirations of becoming a pilot.

It was his Uncle Richard who encouraged him to join the family firm, Richard Irvin, founded by his great grandfather in 1871. Mentored by his uncle, he eventually took over from him as managing director, becoming chairman and chief executive of the Richard Irvin Services Group, now a specialist in building services, engineering and fabrication, supply chain management and marine safety.

It was originally a fishing company, and Cradock was faced with some tough decisions over the years in order to keep the firm going.During the 1970s, when the fishing industry endured troubled times, he was fiercely loyal to both the men on the boats and the shareholders who invested in the business, displaying a real understanding of people and their strengths and weaknesses, and inspiring them to become part of the team.

It was the era of the fledgling oil industry and while other firms divested their organisations of their fishing interests and invested in the offshore sector, he and his directors continued to invest in fishing.

Only when the firm was virtually on its knees did they finally start offloading the fishing division and begin transforming it into a very successful oil services company.

While guiding Richard Irvin into new ventures, he also served on Aberdeen Harbour Board for many years, was on the board of Lloyds TSB Scotland and was a director of numerous organisations, including the Milk Marketing Board, Lloyds TSB Foundation, Sunderland Marine Insurance, Aberdeen Harbour Services and Aberdeen's Alert Seafoods.

He retired as chairman of Richard Irvin in 1994 but remained a shareholder with a keen interested in its activities. Two years ago, he opened the company's new headquarters in the city's Altens.

In retirement, he and his wife enjoyed holidaying around Scotland and spent many happy years bowling together at Stonehaven Bowling Club. He was a member and beadle of Ferryhill Parish Church in Aberdeen, a past president of Aberdeen Grammar FP Club and a member of Royal Aberdeen Golf Club for more than 60 years. He was a past captain of the golf club and was recently made an honorary member.

Widowed in 2005, after he and his wife had retaken their marriage vows on their golden wedding anniversary, and despite the loss of his soulmate, he continued to throw himself into various activities with his customary gusto - living up to his philosophy of having fun by jumping off a mountain in Turkey to paraglide at the age of 80, regardless of his fear of heights.

"He was very simply a selfless, gentle man," said his son Innes, "and just the best role model for how to live your life."

He is survived by his sister Sheila and brother Richard, his sons Innes and David, seven grandchildren and a great granddaughter.