Tributes paid after Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance founder dies aged 54

Tributes have been paid after the death of the founder of Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

John Bullough, who was chairman of SCAA, died aged 54 in London on Thursday.

Mr Bullough, a former army officer who served in the first Gulf War, founded the rescue service 10 years ago.

The service has seen nearly 5000 callouts from the charity’s Aberdeen and Perth airbases.

The charity released a statement on Monday evening, saying their former chairman will be “sadly missed” and that his enthusiasm for fundraising “was to be admired”.

The tribute read: “Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance is deeply saddened following the news of our Chairman’s sudden passing.

“Vice Chair Mike Beale said Mr Bullough had been involved with SCAA from inception and, together with his fellow co-founders, saw the charity grow into a major and integral part of the country’s emergency services network.

“His brand of enthusiasm for fundraising was to be admired,” he said, “and over the 10-year history of SCAA he saw over £50 million raised, crews responding to nearly 5,000 call outs and thousands of lives saved or impacted upon.

“John will be sadly missed by everyone at SCAA and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Mr Bullough was born in Cumbria but was brought up at Huntingtower, near Perth.

His family owned McEwans, a well-known department store in the city until its closure in 2016.

John Swinney, the MSP for Perthshire North, said: “I am shocked and saddened by the news of John Bullough’s passing.

“As owner of McEwens, he was a prominent feature in the Perth business community for many years.

“Tribute must be paid for his monumental efforts in setting up Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance, which continued to thrive under his stewardship. He was also a firm proponent on bringing the Stone of Destiny to Perth.

“My thoughts are very much with his family at this sad time.”