Dr. Gordon Williamson

Gordon Williamson
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Gordon Williamson

Many people who have been involved at Loch Ness will have heard of Marine Biologist, Gordon Williamson.He has been very well known locally for his blue twelve-seater minibus in which he used to take tourists on tours around Loch Ness.

Sadly Gordon had a heart attack a few years ago, yet battled his way back to fitness and retook his PSV (Public Service Vehicle) licence so that he could again run his tours.

Earlier this year he suffered a minor stroke which meant that his licence was yet again revoked.I had been talking to him about how he was progressing and, being left handed, he was really concerned that that was the side his stroke had affected.He told me that he had been making good progress and that he had finally been able to pick up a two pence piece with his left hand.He hoped that he would be able to restart his tours this September.

Tragically a couple of months ago Gordon was standing with his push-bike, talking to a friend near his home in North Kessock on the Black Isle, when he was hit by a car full of youngsters who apparently claimed that they had not seen him because the sun was in their eyes.

That accident has left Gordon, over ten weeks later in a special room where he can only be visited by those wearing gowns and masks.He received a fractured skull, broken bone in his neck, cracked ribs, almost had to have his leg amputated and is unlikely to ever run a tour again.

I must admit that when I went to visit him at the beginning of June I was deeply shocked at his appearance and, although he obviously knew someone was there, I was unable to communicate with him at all.

I hope everyone who knows him will send their best wishes to his family and I have an email address available to permit me to pass on those wishes.

This specimen was collected by Dr Gordon Williamson who worked as the resident ships biologist for the whaling company Salvesons.He examined the stomach contents of 250 Sperm Whales Physeter macrocephalus keeping the largest squid beak and discarding the smaller until he ended up with this magnificent specimen.