Obituary: Ken Grant, respected banker who forged a successful career with RBS in Perth and Dundee

KEN Grant, a well-known retired Perth bank manager, has died suddenly in Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital. He was 75.

A native of Edinburgh, he attended the Royal High School, where he excelled at cricket and rugby. He played rugby for the Royal High School FPs and for Corstorphine, and was a talented wicket keeper for the FPs.

He enjoyed a call-up to the East of Scotland cricket squad, but when his career took him to Perthshire, he opted for the camaraderie of Glendelvine Cricket Club rather than the more competitive county stage.

Friendships forged in those days through cricket and as auditor of Perthshire Rugby Club endured throughout the rest of his life.

He was a keen golfer, and his claim to fame during his years as a member at Craigie Hill was a memorable hole in one at the par 3 17th.

He also enjoyed his golf at Glenalmond, and in Birmingham he joined Mosely GC.

Ken also enjoyed tennis, squash and the occasional game of curling in Perth.

A highly successful career with the Royal Bank of Scotland began in 1954 in the capital’s Hunter Square, but Ken’s numeracy skills saw him serve with the Pay Corps in Hong Kong during his National Service from 1955 to 1957.

In 1965 he became an inspector, and three years later long-time links with Perth were forged when he became the youngest Royal Bank assistant manager in Scotland at Perth Central. He stepped up to the manager’s post on the retirement of Scott Ferguson from the High Street branch.

After 11 years in the Fair City, he headed for Dundee and the Murraygate branch.

In 1983, Ken’s reputation saw him selected as one of two men to head up the bank’s first regional offices south of the Border.

He settled in Birmingham with wife Edna, who he had married in 1960, before returning north of the Border in 1992 on retirement at the age of 55.

With time on his hands, Ken, who had been a member of the Association of Certified Accountants, opted for the challenge of the Open University, securing a BA qualification. He was a past president of the Chamber of Commerce in Perth and a member of the Society of High Constables of the City of Perth.

In Dundee, he was honoured as a Bonnetmaker and served as treasurer of the Broughty Ferry lifeboat station branch.

Ken is survived by his wife Edna, children Mike and Judi and five grandchildren.

The funeral takes place at Perth Crematorium on Tuesday at 2pm.

Gordon Bannerman