Forres stalwart and Moray councillor Jeff Hamilton dies aged 75
A family man and former councillor who built a life in Moray after moving north 50 years ago has died aged 75.
Jeff Hamilton of Seapark, Kinloss, passed away aged 75 at Dr Gray’s Hospital on Friday, February 28, 2025.
In post published by Tom Ross and Sons Funeral Directors, the family of the Forres and Finderne councillor paid tribute to their “beloved husband” and “much loved dad”.
The tribute, which prompted an outpouring of supportive comments, said that Mr Hamilton was a “caring father-in-law, a devoted grandad and great-grandad and a sadly missed friend to many”.
According to a 2012 story in The Forres Gazette, Mr Hamilton was born in Northern Ireland before coming to Kinloss through the RAF in 1975.
“He met and married local girl Pearl and has lived here ever since,” the story added.
Mr Hamilton served as a councillor for a total of 12 years and played a key role in Moray Council’s independent-led administration, including as chair of the Education and Children’s Services Committee.
Initially elected as councillor for the Finderne ward in 2000, Councillor Hamilton became one of four Forres councillors after a reorganisation in 2007.
The Kinloss man would continue as a councillor until the 2012 local election.
Mr Hamilton’s contribution to his local community was not limited to his work at Moray Council, however.
He played a key role in the Forres and Vienenburg Twinning Association, the Kinloss Abbey Trust and the Moray and Highland’s Children’s Panel, among other groups.
In an interview with The Forres Gazette in 2012, Mr Hamilton was asked what he would do with cash from a lottery win.
“This would obviously depend on the amount,” he said.
“I’m sure I would do the obvious, nice house, help family, et cetera.
“But if I won a substantial amount, I would like to set up a fund in the town to assist with town improvements.
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“Many hundreds of thousands of pounds have come to Forres over the years, but most of this has been spent on development workers, feasibility studies, development plans et cetera, with little to show on the ground.
“Every penny from my fund would go into projects which would make Forres a better place to live.”
Mr Hamilton’s funeral is set to take place at Noon, Thursday, March 20, in Tom Ross and Sons’ Chapel on Orchard Road, Forres with “friends respectfully invited”.
His family have requested family flowers only, however donations in lieu can be made to charity Blood Cancer UK (Primary Myelofibrosis).
