A pioneering educationalist has passed away at the age of 93

Robert McAdam was principal lecturer at the college for eight years and introduced courses in electronics, business and commerce.

He was at the helm between 1982 and 1990 and during that time he also fought to provide a creche, making the college the first in Scotland to offer such a facility.

His son Stephen said: "He inspired a lot of students over the years and helped to provide the right training for them, and this was drawn from his own experience.

"A lot of people didn't have professional qualifications when he was growing up."

Mr McAdam was an honorary Gourockian, who said: "I came when I was three and have been here ever since.

His daughter-in-law Susan said: "He loved Gourock and was brought up alongside his brothers David, Stephen and his sister Alice."

Growing up he was a member of the Boys' Brigade in the town.

He was married to Lillie, now 90, for almost 70 years and they had four children - Avril, David, Robert and Stephen.

The couple, of Caledonia Crescent, were further blessed with 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

His family say Mr McAdam was a self-taught man who spent his life striving to improve his qualifications and knowledge, and in turn passed this experience onto the students he was trying to help.

Susan said: "He was a one-off. He saw the value in education in all its forms, from evening classes and part-time study to vocational subjects because he had done it all himself.

"He responded to a time of change in the area, the decline of the shipyards and traditional industries and as a result the college adapted to the changing needs of students brought about by the decline of heavy industry and growing dole queues."

Mr McAdam championed new courses including hi-tech engineering and information technology working alongside NatSemi and IBM.

Susan said: "He was ahead of time. He changed a gymnasium into a creche and fought the education authority at that time.

"He realised a lot of women weren't coming into education because of their family commitments.

"He worked hard for people to give them the best start in life."

Mr McAdam served an engineering apprenticeship in the old Torpedo Factory and completed two years service in the Royal Navy.

He then studied mechanical engineering at the old Watt Memorial School and was employed at Scotts as an engineer draftsman.

His career took a different route after a two-year course at Jordanhill College of Education led him to teach engineering and management studies in Paisley College of Technology.

He returned to Jordanhill in 1960 and eventually became principal and was a lecturer in the college's school of further education, whilst studying for an M.Sc and M.Ed until becoming depute principal and principal at James Watt College.

Mr McAdam was also active in his local community and was a life-time member of Bethany Hall in Gourock.

He taught Sunday School classes and was leader of a summer camp for children.

Stephen said: "Everyone who knew him has a story to tell of how he helped them with something along the way."

Susan added: "In a speech on the life and work of James Watt himself, Mr McAdam talked of the college ‘emulating the great man; to be resourceful, dedicated, industrious, tolerant and determine to do our best’.

"There could be no better epitaph to Mr McAdam himself. He was all of these things and more."

Mr McAdam's funeral service will take place at Bethany Hall in Gourock on Monday at 10.30am and thereafter to Inverkip Cemetery.