A war veteran and journalist who spent 18 years in the regional press before going on to a career in local government has died aged 82.

Jack Nicoll has been described as “a man of vision”, who worked on Aberdeen Journals titles before taking up a variety of roles a councils across Scotland.

Hailing from the town of Broughty Ferry, near Dundee, he served as secretary to the Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet in the latter stages of the Second World War.

After being demobbed he met his wife Marjorie, with whom he had four children.  They were married for 62 years until her death 16 months ago.

An obituary in Aberdeen daily The Press & Journal said Jack “was known for his determination to chase down a story and his insightful comment on local issues”.

After leaving journalism Jack was appointed director of publicity by Aberdeen City Council, before moving on to the role of director of leisure, recreation and tourism for Grampian Regional Council towards the end of 1975.

In the early 1980s he returned to his hometown to take on the role of caring for his mother who was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

He took up the position of deputy director of tourism at Dundee City Council, where he coined its “City of Discovery” nickname.

During his spare time he was a keen golfer and gardener, who could still name the local fauna and identify the birds on the bird table even in the latter stages of vascular dementia.

Jack is survived by daughters, Joyce and Roma, eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.