A regional press photographer had been presented with a watch after clocking up 30 years service at the same title.

Sandy McCook has worked for Aberdeen’s Press and Journal since he was 21 years old, joining the title after studying photography at a college in Edinburgh.

During his career, he has covered many major news stories, including the Lockerbie disaster, the Dunblane shootings and the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Sandy was presented with the watch by Alan Scott, managing director of Aberdeen Journals Ltd, at the newspaper’s office in Inverness – where the photographer is based.

Sandy McCook, right, is presented with his watch by Alan Scott.

Mr Scott said: “It is always a pleasure to give a member of staff a gold watch for 30 years’ service, but especially so when it is to someone who has always been incredibly helpful and willing to go that extra mile, as all employees with 30 years’ service tend to do.

“I am delighted Sandy is continuing to be an employee of Aberdeen Journals for some years yet.”

After 20 years working in the title’s Aberdeen office, including two years as acting picture editor, Sandy moved to work at the Inverness office.

He has used his skills as a skier during his job, battling against blizzard conditions to get the first picture of the RAF Sea King helicopter which became stranded for a week in the Cairngorms in 2006.

One of Sandy’s favourite jobs was when he had afternoon tea with the Queen Mother as he photographed her meeting Press and Journal columnist George Fraser on his 100th birthday – when he was still writing for the paper.

Sandy, whose father was a freelance photographer for many years, has also enjoyed covering the Royal National Mods, an annual cultural festival for Scotland.

He said: “I have seen many sad occasions, but many happy ones too. I have enjoyed meeting so many interesting and varied people that otherwise I would never have encountered.

“It has been fascinating too over the 30 years, seeing the equipment we use evolve from using films that could carry only 12 photos to today’s digital cameras of the highest specification.”