A Highland 'influencer' and professional to his toes and fingertips – tributes to media giant
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Tributes have poured in from the world of media, politics and football following the death of Highland media giant Bill McAllister.
Mr McAllister was a highly-respected journalist, author and media relations officer. He had a passionate interest in football, was involved in the Labour party and was known as an orator.
The 78-year-old, who was taken ill earlier this month, died on Saturday.
He was married to Inverness Central councillor Bet McAllister and had two sons, Mark and Kerr, and a daughter, Gemma.
Caithness Courier chief reporter Alan Hendry described him as "a great journalist and a natural storyteller" who had a soft spot for Wick Academy.
Born and brought up in Dingwall, Bill joined the North Star straight from Dingwall Academy aged 16.
Two years later, he moved to the Highland News and, aged 21, joined the Press and Journal where he spent 24 years firstly as Highland sports editor, then north news editor and finally as the paper’s first Highland editor.
His voice was also familiar to many as BBC Scotland’s Highland football correspondent for over a decade and he had a 20-year career playing football for several Inverness Welfare League teams and Dingwall Thistle.
Gordon Fyfe, joint chairman of ICT Community Trust and co-ordinator of Inverness Football Memories Project, was a former colleague and neighbour of Bill for many years. He recalled his coverage of Highland League games.
“He was a well-known figure from Peterhead to Wick and in between,” he recalled. “He got to know everyone in football – the players, the managers and chairmen in football clubs.
“He didn’t just report on the game. He was an influencer.”
Mr Fyfe added: “His ability was to interview people and using his two index fingers on his typewriter, he would bash out a story in no time at all.”
In 1990, Bill set up his own press and public relations company, McAllister Media, with high-profile local clients including Tulloch Homes.
He sold the business in 2014 to Aberdeen-based Frasermedia, also joining it as a PR account director.
He was founder and editor of Highland Football and Sport, the first monthly magazine devoted to the north game.
He was a member of Inverness District Council for more than 15 years, serving the Hilton area, and still remained a member of the Labour Party.
Former Inverness Labour councillor Jimmy Gray said: “He was really good company. He really enjoyed being with people.
“He liked socialising and was a font of information and knowledge. He read a lot and was a good historian.”
He wrote the Highland Hundred – The History of the Highland Football League 1893-1993 to mark its centenary.
He was a former chairman of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Arts and Recreation Committee and also served on the Scottish Sports Council and the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils.
He was also a former chairman of the Highland branch of the National Union of Journalists.
Freelance journalist David Love said: “He was undoubtedly the most well-known, witty, welcoming person with a fantastic memory equalled only by his zest for life.”
STV reporter Nicola McAlley said: “Such sad news. A giant in Highland media.”
Others paying tribute included Chris Dowling, joint managing director of Inverness-based windows manufacturer Cairngorm Group.
He said Bill was regarded as a family friend, having first known his grandfather and father through their links with Clachnacuddin FC before he started doing some PR for Cairngorm.
"He was always so upbeat and positive," he said. "He always had a story to tell and he had a real interest in what was going on."
Others took to social media to post tributes.
Former managing director of Moray Firth Radio Thomas Prag said: "A professional to his toes and fingertips!"
Lynne Holburn commented: "A wonderful orator and all round good guy."
