Alfred (Freddie) Gairfield Melville passed away peacefully, with his loving family by his side, at Raigmore Hospital, on Tuesday 1st April 2025, aged 90 years.

The hard-working building contractor was a major force in Sutherland and is responsible for over 1,000 homes and public buildings there.

Better known as Freddie, his career spanned over five decades, during which he trained a score of local tradesmen through his firm A G Melville.

After serving his apprenticeship as a bricklayer with James Sutherland and Sons in the 1950s, he worked as a foreman for Morrison Construction before setting up his own building firm in the early 1980s.

A full tribute has been published in the Press & Journal.