Obituary: James Macintyre MBE

His start in life could hardly have been less auspicious: born into rural poverty and barefoot schooldays, an intermittent education left him with no qualifications and a future as a grocer's van boy.

Even when he dragged himself up by the bootstraps, his dream of joining the London Met was foiled - by his flat feet.

But once James Macintyre signed up for his local force, he began a rise to greatness that saw him honoured by the Queen, become acting chief constable of Inverness-shire Constabulary and the first Children's Panel reporter in the Highlands, with a life-long interest in supporting young people.

In his private life he enjoyed happiness and contentment for the better part of 70 years with his wife, Netta, and their family of four.

The son of a shepherd, he was born in Onich but, aged one, began a series of moves around the country as his father sought work. He spent his pre-school years on Eigg until the family was evicted to make way for the boss's family.

His schooling began in Lochearnhead, Perthshire, where his father obtained work as mail coachman for the local hotel and the memory of him setting off on his daily round on the mail coach pulled by four horses remained vivid decades later. Unable to speak English, James was regularly beaten for speaking the Gaelic at school.

After about 18 months they moved again, to Salachael sheep farm, in the remote hills behind Onich on the Locheil Estate. The nearest school was four miles away, too far for him to attend, so he had no formal education for the next two-and-a-half years. Instead he tended the black-faced sheep, the cattle and hens and helped with the hay-making, occasionally getting lessons from his mother, a trained primary teacher.

It was so isolated they were almost cut off from the rest of the world and saw virtually no-one, bar walkers and naval crew training in the hills in summer.

The family then moved to Inchree Farm, also on the Locheil Estate but just two-and-a-half miles from Onich School which he began attending, walking there barefoot all year, save for during winter frosts when he was reduced to tears by having to wear his hated boots.

The rest of his childhood was spent in Corpach and he left Fort William High School at 14 for a van boy's job with Duncan Colquhoun, general merchant, at 3/6 a week. His wage increased to 15 shillings a week on his 17th birthday when - despite his lack of driving licence - he was put in full charge of the van as driver and salesman.

Always worried about his limited education, when he was 20 he began spending ten shillings a week on private English lessons and taking a three-year Sheffield College correspondence course in general knowledge. Having become friendly with an ex-Met officer, he applied to various forces but there were no vacancies. After he passed the Met's entrance test the doctor ruled him out, fearing his flat right foot would not withstand 30 years of pounding the London streets.

However, he was accepted by Inverness-shire Constabulary and reported in November 1936. Having shown an interest in fingerprinting during his training, something not used in Inverness-shire, he became the force's first officer to take fingerprints from an alleged thief in custody. He also decided it would be useful to learn shorthand and took it upon himself to attend an evening course at a secretarial college, gaining a 90-words-a-minute certificate in Pitman's, which he found useful during phone calls and when noting down witness statements.

During his early police career he was stationed at HQ at Inverness Castle and became motor patrol driver and transport officer, introducing road safety talks to schools.

Promoted unusually early to inspector in 1948, three years later he became the youngest superintendent in Scotland and was deputy chief constable. Made an MBE in 1957 for services to the police, he received the police long service and good conduct medal in 1958.

During his chief's long and fatal illness he was acting chief constable from 1962-63, though a ruling, debarring internal candidates, deprived him of the permanent post. He continued to serve as chief superintendent until he retired in March 1971, putting his success down to being delegated responsibility early - by his grocer boss in Corpach and later by his chief constables, both of whom trusted in him despite his youth.

Following retirement he was appointed reporter to the Children's Panel for Inverness-shire and later to Highland Region, until retiring again in 1979. He also served on Inverness Hospital board of management and, until age 80, was a private inquiry officer for various solicitors firms.

However, he always kept work in its rightful place and was a real family man, constantly ensuring he gave generously of his time, love and support to his wife and children, insisting, despite the pressure of his career, that they all gathered daily round the table for lunch.

He was fiercely ambitious for his children and, not having benefited from a higher education himself, he was immensely proud that they all achieved university degrees and went on to have very successful careers.

His interest in supporting other youngsters extended when he became a curator for adoption applications and a Highland Council safeguarder of children's interests in legal proceedings.

Macintyre was also an associate member of the Boy Scouts Association and a reserve officer of the Boys' Brigade Inverness battalion.

He was an active churchgoer and a dedicated deacon and elder of the Crown Church, Inverness, for more than 40 years.

As a teenager he was a founder member of Kilmallie Shinty Club and played with Inverness Shinty Club, reaching the final of the Camanachd Cup in 1938 and becoming honorary president of both clubs. He also had a lifelong passion for golf.

Despite his remarkable career he remained a very modest man and rarely spoke of his many achievements.

He is survived by his wife Netta, who he met in 1944, their children Carole, Douglas, Anne and Tom and grandchildren.