Kevin Duff remembered: how the acclaimed Carlsberg salesman went from punk rock rebel to the ‘most wonderful husband, best dad, truly incredible grandad’ – with a fair bit of ‘craic’ in between
Even during the most difficult days after his death, Kevin Duff was making his closest laugh and smile.
A legendary sense of humour rarely spared anyone: family, friends, colleagues and even valued clients.
Amid the tears, happy memories flowed.
Stories abound of mischief-making growing up in native Glen Urquhart. There was a spell as a hell-raising punk rocker that briefly earned an EMI record deal, a brush with TV’s Noel Edmonds and an innocent elevator encounter with a glamorous female sports presenter – and the zipper on her dress – among them.
Those tales cast light on one side of Kevin’s nature, but shining through it all was the real deal for the accomplished former Carlsberg salesman: an unshakeable love of family.
The “most wonderful husband, best dad, truly incredible grandad and amazing father-in-law”, was only too happy to shelve rock ‘n’ roll excess for the warmth and security of family life.
His was a life well-lived, but one cut cruelly short at the age of 62.
Kevin’s death on July 21 this year of cancer from melanoma came as a shock to a great many who knew him well.
As one of his past Carlsberg colleagues and closest friends Paul Reid put it, “Kevin knew everyone”.
He is survived by beloved wife Joyce, children Jane and Kev, son and daughter-in-law Barry and Fionagh, and grandchildren Amber and Autumn.
DONATE TO AMBER AND AUTUMN’S HIGHLAND HOSPICE FUNDRAISER FOR GRANDA HERE
For all his success in “making millions” for Carlsberg, and later as a publican and Scottish Ambulance Service driver, he saw family as his greatest achievement. In a touching personal letter to them, written just prior to his death, he asked them to be “glad, not sad”, a message they all cherish.
An unprecedented volume of online tributes and private messages poured in as the sad news spread.
To devastated friends and acquaintances, he was ‘a wee legend’, a ‘great friend’, ‘a lovely guy’, ‘an extraordinary man’, ‘kind, honest and genuine’ and ‘the most selfless person you could ever meet’.
There were simply too many of that nature for it to be lip service.
At his own request, the funeral was a private affair, but daughter Jane Mackay was keen, with the Courier’s help, to convey some of the stories to the many who felt they missed out.
As Jane told us: “As a family, we would like to say we are so lucky that he was ours!
“Everything he did was for his family. He was an extremely hard worker, everyone’s rock, and the person we all went to when we needed help or advice.
“He gave myself and Kevin the best childhood you could possibly ask for. He adored his granddaughters and they are left with the best memories of a fun and loving grandad.
“They brought him so much joy and he always brought the fun and the crazy for them.
“We are all devastated that he is gone, but how lucky we are to have all the amazing memories.
“Our lives will never be the same, but we will do our best to keep making him proud every single day.”
Those at the humanist funeral on August 1 were given a wonderful flavour of his life.
Born on November 9, 1962 in Inverness, Balnain near Drumnadrochit was home growing up as son of Teresa and little brother to Alistair.
A scholarly gift for algebra and statistics was eclipsed by a fondness for fun. There was also a wee rebellious streak that infamously brought beltings for him and his pals as an unpopular teacher’s bald head was cheekily slapped from behind.
As is true for many rural youngsters, “making your own fun” was a necessity in Balnain. One popular pursuit was simply watching the locals fight as they emptied from the pub.
Kevin’s first job was as a storeman for Ness Motors and it was a fateful appointment, given that future wife Joyce worked there.
It took Kevin a year to pluck up the courage to ask her out, but she knocked him back – twice – before romance blossomed.
After selling accident insurance, he spent 30 years with Carlsberg Brewers’ sales team, working in Scotland, the UK and Europe - a time he described as “truly special” to him.
He was extremely good at his job, with a salesman’s gift for making people feel they were getting the best deal possible, but always with integrity and fairness.
In 1993, those talents earned him the ‘Outstanding Achievement, Carlsberg Salesman of the Year’ award, handed to him by Noel Edmonds, then one of British TV’s most recognisable faces.
At another industry event, he found himself sharing a lift with sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher who, to his surprise, asked him to help her zip up her dress.
He then took great pleasure in witnessing the surprised faces of friends and colleagues as he introduced this glamorous “good friend” of his to the table.
By the time he left Carlsberg, Kevin had built up a remarkably broad network of trusted local businesses and publicans who often turned to him for invaluable advice – something he was always keen to offer.
As son Kevin jnr put it, dad “knew the deal!”
Within a group, he poured passion into renovating and improving Macdui Inn in Aviemore, among other pub projects.
During the pandemic, he helped set up testing sites as far south as Fort William, loving the organisational side of the work.
Semi-retirement brought a happy spell working for the Scottish Ambulance Service, with long days behind the wheel driving to supply stations in an area stretching from Thurso to Fort William and across to Aberdeen.
He loved the travelling, comfortable in his own company on the road, but always happy to be back home.
Such was the high regard in which he was held, the Scottish Ambulance Service flew the service flag at half-mast in the lead-up to Kevin's funeral.
He married Joyce, “the love of his life”, in 1982. She described him as “romantic, but never soppy”.
After a couple of homes, they settled at Charleston View for the next 30 years where Kevin indulged Jane’s love of horses on regular trips to Drumnadrochit - her price being having to listen to dad in full singing voice in the car.
Music was a passion and he recorded in secret an album for Joyce on their 20th wedding anniversary named ‘2 decades takes 2’.
In 1978, he had joined local punk band The Strike who were, in Joyce’s assessment, “honestly awful” as they battered out ‘tunes’ in a Cannich caravan.
Decades later, Kevin and Kevin jnr were prone to unleashing an impromptu rendition of The Strike’s unacclaimed classic ‘Gangwarfare’ on nights out.
After touring youth clubs, local dances and village halls, English TV presenter and music journalist Garry Bushell negotiated a record deal with EMI that saw the young upstarts transported to London.
En-route, Kevin and bandmate Dick overdid the refreshments and were almost turfed off the train after causing mayhem in the carriages.
Soaking up the alcohol with bacon rolls and coffee, the innocent Highlanders experienced some ‘adult educational films’ in Soho before recording at Work House Studios on Old Kent Road.
Rock ‘n’ roll’s loss was the Duff family’s gain and Kevin was always present, not just for Jane’s horses, but with young Kevin, indulging a shared passion for rugby and football - Celtic and Scotland - and on many travels with Joyce, Canada a favourite.
Golf brought many happy days for father and son, although, with the Kevin caddying for young Kev, his dubious advice often led to an early tournament exit.
As Kevin jnr recalls, father and son also proudly teamed up at football. He said: “Dad was manager of Drum for a season, so we played together that year in a good few games, when he came off the bench.
“Not many father and son duos get to be team-mates.
“We played golf all around Scotland together, from Torvean to Craggy Hill.
“Friday night pints were a longstanding tradition for us and many great nights and stories still echo.”
Former workmate and good friend Ricky Sturrock recalled: “I’ve known Kevin since he started with Carlsberg. He was such an easy guy to get on with, always bringing humour to meetings.
“He was firm but fair, great at his job and he loved the work. He won many incentives within the sales team and he was the one to beat.
“Kevin was a left-hander with a fantastic golf swing and could easily have been a low handicap golfer.
“He had great relationships with his customers and they were loyal to him. He excelled in banter and would tear them to bits at events, but all in good fun. Nobody got upset.
“Only Kevin could get away with that.”
Paul Reid, who counted Kevin as his best friend, had the honour of being coffin bearer at the funeral.
He recalled: “I had the privilege of knowing Kevin for some 30 years. I first met Kevin in the early 90s, working for various drinks companies interlinked with him in the drinks trade.
“I covered the whole of Scotland but the landlord at every pub from Perth to Ullapool when I tried to do business would say ‘I’ll need to ask Kev’.
“He became my best mate and was the funniest person I have ever known. Some of the best nights in my life were with Kevin.
“I’m devastated by his passing - my most loyal friend, confidante and the most honest and genuine man I have ever met.”
Peter Corbett, Clach’s former commercial director among other roles, echoed all those sentiments having forged a close bond with Kevin, both sharing a love of the craic and a bit of mischief.
With Carlsberg emblazoned on the Lilywhites’ shirts, they mischievously fed out a spoof news story announcing that English giants Liverpool and the mighty Hibs were heading to Grant Street Park for a pre-season tournament.
There was a never dull moment around Kevin, not least for little Amber (10) and Autumn (6). For them, time with granda was full of squeals of joy and excitement amid his imaginative capers.
In memory of granda, the girls are running the Baxter's 5k on Loch Ness Marathon day, September 28, in aid of Highland Hospice.
In an incredible effort, they have already smashed their £2000 target, but more contributions are invited.
Anyone who would like to donate CAN DO SO HERE