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Tributes paid to owner of Loch Ness cruise firm following sudden death


By Gregor White

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Dave Bell who has passed away.
Dave Bell who has passed away.

A son has paid moving tribute to his "passionate" father following his sudden death at just 54.

Community stalwart Dave Bell owned Loch Ness Cruises and Celtic Crafts in Drumnadrochit with wife Julie, and was a much-loved coach with Glenurquhart Football Club.

He died of a heart attack while waiting to be seen at his local GP surgery after feeling unwell. His funeral was held yesterday.

Speaking on behalf of the family, including brother Owen (22), his 26-year-old son Mike said: "He is already greatly missed by us and we are, of course, completely shocked by his death."

Mr Bell was born in Newport in Wales in 1966 before moving to London in his teens.

He worked as a signalman with London Underground and it was while he was in the capital that he met his wife-to-be.

Mike said: "It was after a holiday to the Highlands that my mum and dad decided to move to Scotland."

The family moved first to Tomatin before settling in Drumnadrochit a year later.

Mike laughed: "It was a shock for us all coming from the East End of London to the beautiful Highlands, but we are all so grateful that our parents made that decision.

"My dad was a postie while he was studying for his history degree – he worked at almost everything, including a time as a baker."

Mike said that due to experiences he had, Mr Bell studied to be an employment lawyer and, while studying, took a job as a tour operator with Loch Ness Cruises.

"Around eight years ago he started to work with Loch Ness Cruises with the then owner George Edwards, and loved it," he said.

"He loved telling tourists the stories of the area, and talking about hill climbing – another one of his great loves. I don’t know if anyone really listened to him, but everything dad did, he did with passion.

"When George wanted to sell the business at the end of 2019 he asked my dad if he wanted to buy it.

"My dad told me that he was thinking about buying by asking ‘how would you like to be a Loch Ness Monster hunter for the rest of your life?"

Mr Bell met his wife, Julie, while living and working in London.
Mr Bell met his wife, Julie, while living and working in London.

Mr Bell ran the cruise side of the business while Julie looked after the shop. Mike is also involved with the business.

"There are very few people who get the opportunity to sail up Loch Ness into the sunset with their dad," he said.

"He was passionate about everything he was involved with – my mum was his number one, but rugby was a close second!

"He started coaching at the football club and he loved being involved with that. He might have been in a bad mood on a Saturday if it was a bad result, but he was as passionate as ever at the next training session."

The family has launched a fundraising appeal for Amnesty International in Mr Bell’s honour.

Mike said: "My dad fiercely believed that society should be more equal – that no one should be disadvantaged because of where they were born, or the colour of their skin."

Tributes online include from family friend and walking buddy Sue Snow who said: "We shared so many laughs, debates, jokes, blisters, smoky fires and cold, dark walk-ins.

"I feel honoured to have known him and grateful to his lovely family Julie, Michael and Owen for welcoming me into their life when I first moved up here. He was so proud of his boys."

To donate to the online fundraiser go to Dave Bell Memorial.


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